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Luke 8:5

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 8:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.
Luke 8:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
3and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod`s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.
4And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable:
5The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.
6And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
7And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.
8And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“A sower went out to sow his seed, etc.] By whom Jesus Christ is chiefly designed; though it is true of every preacher of the Gospel: who goes forth, being sent by Christ, with the precious seed of the word: for the phrase, “his seed”, which only Luke has, best agrees with Christ, he being the proprietor and subject of it. The Alexandrian copy reads, “the seed of himself”, The Persic version reads the whole clause thus, “a sower chose ground, and there he sowed seed”: he fixed on the spot of ground to sow his seed in, as Christ did on the people of the Jews, and afterwards the Gentiles. And, as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; on the road, which was by the side of the field, in which…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the parable of the sower explained in the notes at Matthew 13:1-23. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:5 The custom in planting was first to scatter seed and then to plow it into the soil. • The seed that fell on a footpath running through the fields would not be plowed in, so it was stepped on and eaten by birds.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“sower: Luk 8:11; Mat 13:3, Mat 13:4, Mat 13:18, Mat 13:19, Mat 13:24-26, Mat 13:37; Mar 4:2-4, Mar 4:15, Mar 4:26-29 fell: Luk 8:12; Heb 2:1; Jam 1:23, Jam 1:24 it: Psa 119:118; Mat 5:13 and the: Gen 15:11 Luke 8:6”
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Related study paths

Read Luke 8 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification