New Testament

Mark 4:19

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In this verse, Jesus explains how various distractions can hinder spiritual growth.

Author
John Mark
Written
Around AD 55-65
Genre
Gospel
Original Audience
Roman and Gentile Christians
CBTClear Bible Translation

but the worries of everyday life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the lusts for other things crowd in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

KJVKing James Version

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this verse, Jesus explains how various distractions can hinder spiritual growth. The 'worries of everyday life' refer to the stress and concerns that consume our attention, making it hard to focus on spiritual matters. The 'deceitfulness of wealth' highlights how the pursuit of money can mislead us, creating false security and priorities. Lastly, the 'lusts for other things' represent desires for material possessions or experiences that can pull us away from our faith. Together, these factors can choke the word of God in our lives, preventing it from bearing fruit. This illustrates the importance of being aware of what occupies our minds and hearts, as these distractions can lead to spiritual barrenness.

How to apply Mark 4:19 to your life

To avoid being choked by distractions, we should prioritize our spiritual lives. This means setting aside time for prayer, reading scripture, and reflecting on our values. By recognizing the things that pull us away from God, we can make conscious choices to focus on what truly matters and nurture our faith.

Curated for this public verse page. Mark Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Mark 4:19 mean?

Mark 4:19 explains how everyday worries, the lure of wealth, and desires for other things can distract us from spiritual growth. These distractions can prevent God's word from being effective in our lives.

What is the meaning of 'deceitfulness of wealth' in Mark 4:19?

The 'deceitfulness of wealth' refers to how the pursuit of money can create false security and mislead us, causing us to prioritize material gain over spiritual matters.

What does 'the cares of this world' mean in Mark 4:19?

'The cares of this world' signifies the daily stresses and concerns that can consume our attention, making it difficult to focus on our faith and spiritual growth.

How can distractions choke the word in Mark 4:19?

Distractions like worries, wealth, and desires can overwhelm us, preventing God's word from taking root in our hearts and leading to unfruitfulness in our spiritual lives.

The Book of Mark
Book Summary

The Book of Mark

Mark 1: John the Baptist and the Beginning of Jesus's Ministry

John the Baptist appears in the wilderness and preaches a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People from Judaea and Jerusalem come to him, confess their sins, and are baptized in the river Jordan. John wears camel's hair and a leather belt and eats locusts and wild honey. He announces that someone stronger than he is coming after him and says he is not worthy to stoop down and untie his sandals. He baptizes with water, but the one coming will baptize with the Holy Ghost.

Premium

Unlock the full Mark summary

Continue reading every chapter — themes, structure, and turning points.

The complete summary of Mark — a chapter-by-chapter breakdown covering all 16 chapters.

What you get

Every chapter of Mark summarized in clear, modern English

How each section connects — narrative flow, key themes, and turning points

Permanent access — read anytime, on any device

Best Value

Best value • Save over 90%

or

One-time purchase • Access anytime

ClearBible summaries are proprietary content and may not be copied, republished, or resold.

Checkout works as a guest. After payment, you create an account to claim your unlock.