Luke 8:9

THE MESSAGE

His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”

King James Version (1611)
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

King James Version
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

English Standard Version
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,

New American Standard Bible
Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant.

New Century Version
Jesus' followers asked him what this story meant.

Amplified Bible
Now His disciples began asking Him what this parable meant.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

Legacy Standard Bible
And His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

Berean Standard Bible
Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus' disciples asked him what the story meant.

Complete Jewish Bible
His talmidim asked him what this parable might mean,

Darby Translation
And his disciples asked him [saying], What may this parable be?

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus' followers asked him, "What does this story mean?"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then his disciples asked him, demaunding what parable that was.

George Lamsa Translation
And his disciples asked him, What is this parable?

Good News Translation
His disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant,

Lexham English Bible
And his disciples asked him what this parable meant.

Literal Translation
And His disciples questioned Him, saying, What might this parable be?

American Standard Version
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

Bible in Basic English
And his disciples put questions to him about the point of the story.

Hebrew Names Version
Then his talmidim asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

International Standard Version
Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant.Matthew 13:10; Mark 4:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And his disciples asked him, What is (the signification of) this parable ?

Murdock Translation
And his disciples asked him: what meaneth this similitude?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And his disciples asked hym, saying what maner of similitude is this?

English Revised Version
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

World English Bible
Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And his disciples asked him, What is this parable?

Weymouth's New Testament
The disciples proceeded to ask Him what this parable meant.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But hise disciplis axiden him, what this parable was.

Update Bible Version
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

Webster's Bible Translation
And his disciples asked him, saying, What doth this parable mean?

New English Translation
Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.

New King James Version
Matthew 13:10-17; Mark 4:10-12">[xr] Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"

New Living Translation
His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

New Life Bible
His followers asked Him what this picture-story meant.

New Revised Standard
Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But his disciples began to question him - What might, this very, parable be?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

Revised Standard Version
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And his disciples axed him sayinge: what maner similitude is this?

Young's Literal Translation
And his disciples were questioning him, saying, `What may this simile be?'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And his disciples axed him, and sayde: What symilitude is this?

Mace New Testament (1729)
But his disciples having ask'd him the meaning of this parable;

Simplified Cowboy Version
Later on, when they were alone, some of his cowboys asked about the stories.

Contextual Overview

⁴As they went from town to town, a lot of people joined in and traveled along. He addressed them, using this story: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. Some of it fell on the road; it was tramped down and the birds ate it. Other seed fell in the gravel; it sprouted, but withered because it didn't have good roots. Other seed fell in the weeds; the weeds grew with it and strangled it. Other seed fell in rich earth and produced a bumper crop. "Are you listening to this? Really listening?" ⁹ His disciples asked, "Why did you tell this story?" ¹⁰ He said, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom—you know how it works. There are others who need stories. But even with stories some of them aren't going to get it: Their eyes are open but don't see a thing, Their ears are open but don't hear a thing. ¹¹"This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved. ¹³ "The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone. ¹⁴ "And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun. ¹⁵ "But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest. ¹⁶"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes." ¹⁹His mother and brothers showed up but couldn't get through to him because of the crowd. He was given the message, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to see you." ²¹ He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

What: Hosea 6:3, Matthew 13:10, Matthew 13:18, Matthew 13:36, Matthew 15:15, Mark 4:10, Mark 4:34, Mark 7:17, Mark 7:18, John 15:15

Reciprocal: Mark 14:22 - this

Cross-References

Psalms 116:7
I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling."

Isaiah 60:8
"What's that we see in the distance, a cloud on the horizon, like doves darkening the sky? It's ships from the distant islands, the famous Tarshish ships Returning your children from faraway places, loaded with riches, with silver and gold, And backed by the name of your God , The Holy of Israel, showering you with splendor. Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings assist you in the conduct of worship. When I was angry I hit you hard. It's my desire now to be tender. Your Jerusalem gates will always be open —open house day and night!— Receiving deliveries of wealth from all nations, and their kings, the delivery boys! Any nation or kingdom that doesn't deliver will perish; those nations will be totally wasted. The rich woods of Lebanon will be delivered —all that cypress and oak and pine— To give a splendid elegance to my Sanctuary, as I make my footstool glorious. The descendants of your oppressor will come bowing and scraping to you. All who looked down at you in contempt will lick your boots. They'll confer a title on you: City of God , Zion of The Holy of Israel. Not long ago you were despised refuse— out-of-the-way, unvisited, ignored. But now I've put you on your feet, towering and grand forever, a joy to look at! When you suck the milk of nations and the breasts of royalty, You'll know that I, God , am your Savior, your Redeemer, Champion of Jacob. I'll give you only the best—no more hand-me-downs! Gold instead of bronze, silver instead of iron, bronze instead of wood, iron instead of stones. I'll install Peace to run your country, make Righteousness your boss. There'll be no more stories of crime in your land, no more robberies, no more vandalism. You'll name your main street Salvation Way, and install Praise Park at the center of town. You'll have no more need of the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night. God will be your eternal light, your God will bathe you in splendor. Your sun will never go down, your moon will never fade. I will be your eternal light. Your days of grieving are over. All your people will live right and well, in permanent possession of the land. They're the green shoot that I planted, planted with my own hands to display my glory. The runt will become a great tribe, the weakling become a strong nation. I am God . At the right time I'll make it happen."

Matthew 11:28
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And his disciples asked him,.... That is, as Mark says, "when he was alone"; after the multitude were departed, and they were by themselves, it may be in some house with other disciples:

saying, what might this parable be? what is the sense and meaning of it? According to Matthew, they asked why he spake in parables to the people; and to such a question the following words are a proper answer.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the parable of the sower explained in the notes at Matthew 13:1-23.