Mark 4:4

4 And while he soweth, some seed felled about the way, and birds of heaven came, and ate it. [+And the while he soweth, some seed felled beside the way, and birds of heaven, or of the air, came, and ate it.]

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 in parables many things. And he said to them in his teaching,

3 Hear ye. Lo! a man sowing goeth out to sow. [Hear ye. Lo! a sower went out to sow.]

4 And while he soweth, some seed felled about the way, and birds of heaven came, and ate it. [+And the while he soweth, some seed felled beside the way, and birds of heaven, or of the air, came, and ate it.]

5 Other [Forsooth another] felled down on stony places, where it had not much earth; and at once it sprang up, for it had not deepness of earth [and anon it sprang up, for it had no deepness of earth].

6 And when the sun rose up, it withered for heat, and it dried up, for it had no root.