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.
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.
- KJV And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
- 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.
- 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 36:26I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
- Luke 8:6Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
- Ezek 11:19I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;
- 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.
- Hos 10:12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
- Amos 6:12Do horses run on the rocky crags? Does one plow there with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison, and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness;
- Matt 13:5–6Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
- Matt 13:20What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
- Mark 4:16–17These 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.
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.