Mark 4:4

4 And it fortuned as he sowed that some fell by the waye syde and the fowles of the ayre came and devoured it vp.

Mark 4:4 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 4:4

And it came to pass, as he sowed
Whilst he was preaching the, Gospel, casting about the precious seed of the word, he was laden with:

some fell by the way side;
the common beaten path: the word was dispensed among some men comparable to it, on whom it lighted, but made no impression; there it lay, though not long, and was not inwardly received, and took no root, and consequently was of no effect:

and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up;
the devils, who have their abode in the air, especially the prince of the posse of them; and the Syriac version reads it in the singular number, "and the fowl came"; that ravenous bird of prey, Satan, who goes about seeking what he may devour; and for this purpose attends where the word is preached, to hinder its usefulness as much as in him lies.

Mark 4:4 In-Context

2 And he taught them many thynges in similitudes and sayde vnto them in his doctrine:

3 Herken to. Beholde There wet out a sower to sowe.

4 And it fortuned as he sowed that some fell by the waye syde and the fowles of the ayre came and devoured it vp.

5 Some fell on stony grounde where it had not moche erth: and by and by sprange vp because it had not deepth of erth:

6 but as sone as the sunne was vp it caught heet and because it had not rotynge wyddred awaye.