And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Parallel translations
- WEB Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
- BSB Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
- NKJV Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
- NASB Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.
- NLT Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.
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
Some seed falls on rocky ground and springs up quickly for lack of deep soil. It matters because it pictures a shallow, rootless response to the word.
Overview
The thin soil over rock allows rapid but superficial growth. This represents an emotional, immediate reception of the gospel that lacks depth. Jesus prepares to show that without genuine roots, such faith cannot endure trial, exposing the difference between initial enthusiasm and lasting discipleship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ezek 36:26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
- Luke 8:6And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
- Ezek 11:19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
- 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.
- Hos 10:12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
- Amos 6:12Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:
- Matt 13:5–6Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
- Matt 13:20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
- Mark 4:16–17And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
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 4:5 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.