And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Parallel translations
- WEB These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
- BSB Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.
- NKJV These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
- NASB And in a similar way these are the ones sown with seed on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;
- NLT The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The rocky-soil hearers receive the word at once with joy. It matters because it shows that an enthusiastic start is not the same as enduring faith.
Overview
These hearers respond immediately and gladly, which seems promising. Yet Jesus is about to reveal that their joy is shallow and rootless. The verse cautions against measuring faith by initial excitement, pointing instead to the depth and endurance that genuine reception of the word produces.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Mark 6:20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
- Luke 8:13They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
- Ezek 33:31–32And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- John 5:35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
- Matt 13:20–21But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
- Acts 8:13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
- Acts 8:18–21And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
- Acts 24:25–26And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
- Matt 8:19–20And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
- Mark 10:17–22And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
- Acts 26:28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 4:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.