The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.
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.
- KJV And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
- 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;
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 righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
- Luke 8:13Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.
- Ezek 33:31–32They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- John 5:35He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
- Matt 13:20–21What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
- Acts 8:13Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
- Acts 8:18–21Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
- Acts 24:25–26As he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, “Go your way for this time, and when it is convenient for me, I will summon you.”
- Matt 8:19–20A scribe came, and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
- Mark 10:17–22As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
- Acts 26:28Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me 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.