The parables reflect everyday life in first-century Palestine. For example, the typical way of sowing grain before plowing the field is accurately described in this parable. Moreover, a grain field would often have a path going alongside it or even through it (see Deut 23.25; Matt 12.1).

As we pointed out above, sowed can be “scattered the seed (on the fields).”

Along the path (so also Good News Translation) translates a Greek construction which may mean either “beside the path but not on it” (see New Jerusalem Bible “on the edge of the path”) or “on the path” (New English Bible “on a footpath,” Moffatt “on the road”). The present context also demands the meaning “path” or “footpath” (New English Bible) rather than “road” (Barclay, Moffatt). To translate “road” would imply that a passageway large enough for vehicles is involved, whereas the reference is to a narrow pathway through a field. This may have to be made explicit, as in “along the path through the field.”

The birds (so most translations) represents a literal rendering of the Greek text which has the definite article “the.” However, in many languages, including perhaps English, it is more natural to drop the article (New American Bible “where birds came”).

Devoured translates an intensive form of the verb “eat.” It is used, for example, of the dragon in Revelation 12.4. Note also its usage in Mark 12.40 and Luke 15.30. It means to eat greedily, or hungrily, or completely, or like an animal. To convey the intensity of devoured, Good News Translation has “ate it up,” and Barclay has “snapped them up.” Similarly many translators will look for some expression that conveys more than “ate,” perhaps “ate them all up.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .