King James Version

What Does Matthew 13:7 Mean?

Matthew 13:7 in the King James Version says “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:” — study this verse from Matthew chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:”

Matthew 13:7 · KJV

Context

5

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9

Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Read Matthew 13 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them.' Jesus describes third response-type: thorny ground. Seeds germinate, plants grow, but 'thorns sprung up' (ἀνέβησαν αἱ ἄκανθαι/anebēsan hai akanthai) alongside and eventually 'choked them' (ἔπνιξαν/epnixan). Jesus explains (v.22): thorns represent 'care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches'—worldly concerns, material pursuit, and wealth's false promises. These compete with gospel for heart allegiance, ultimately suffocating spiritual life. Reformed theology sees this as describing believers whose faith is hindered by worldly entanglements—perhaps genuine conversion but fruitless life. Some interpret as false converts who showed initial promise but worldliness revealed they never truly belonged to Christ. Either way, the warning is clear: worldly cares and wealth pursuit are deadly to spiritual vitality. This hits particularly hard in affluent contexts: material comfort, career ambition, entertainment, and consumer culture 'choke' spiritual growth, preventing fruitfulness. Thorns don't need planting—they grow naturally, constantly threatening to overwhelm genuine faith.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Palestinian agriculture struggled with thorns and weeds—wild growth had to be cleared before planting, but roots and seeds remained. Without constant vigilance, thorns returned, competing for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Even successfully sprouted crops could be overwhelmed by vigorous weed growth. Jesus's image would have been immediately understood: thorny ground produces initial growth that ultimately fails due to competition. The 'care of this world' (ἡ μέριμνα τοῦ αἰῶνος/hē merimna tou aiōnos) includes anxiety about daily provision, pursuit of security, absorption in temporal concerns. The 'deceitfulness of riches' (ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου/hē apatē tou ploutou) exposes wealth as deceiver: it promises satisfaction but delivers emptiness, promises security but produces anxiety, promises freedom but brings bondage. Early church faced this: some abandoned faith for material gain (Demas—2 Timothy 4:10). Throughout history, prosperity has proven more dangerous to church than persecution. Contemporary Western Christianity desperately needs this warning: our affluence, busyness, and material absorption choke spiritual vitality.

Reflection Questions

  1. What 'thorns'—worldly concerns, ambitions, pursuits—are currently competing with spiritual growth in your life?
  2. How does wealth deceive people into thinking material prosperity brings satisfaction or security it cannot deliver?
  3. What practices help prevent worldly cares from choking your spiritual vitality?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
ἄλλα1 of 13

“some”

G243

"else," i.e., different (in many applications)

δὲ2 of 13

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἔπεσεν3 of 13

“fell”

G4098

to fall (literally or figuratively)

ἐπὶ4 of 13

“among”

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τὰς5 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἄκανθαι6 of 13

“the thorns”

G173

a thorn

καὶ7 of 13

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀνέβησαν8 of 13

“sprung up”

G305

to go up (literally or figuratively)

αἱ9 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἄκανθαι10 of 13

“the thorns”

G173

a thorn

καὶ11 of 13

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀπέπνιξαν12 of 13

“choked”

G638

to stifle (by drowning or overgrowth)

αὐτά13 of 13

“them”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 13:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 13:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mark 4:18-19Jeremiah 4:3-4Genesis 3:18Matthew 13:22

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