Section 4:13–20

Jesus explained the parable about four types of soil

In this section, Jesus talked about the meaning of the parable that he had just told. The basic meaning of Jesus’ explanation is clear. However, there are questions about the meaning of the seed in this section. In 4:14, the seed refers to the word. In 4:15–20, what is sown seems to refer to the people who hear the word. This has led to several interpretations for the seed in 4:15–20.

The interpretation that the Notes follows is that in 4:15–20 the seed continues to represent the word. The introductory expressions such as “these/others…are the ones sown” (Revised Standard Version) refer to what happens when the word falls into different types of soil. It represents what happens when different types of people hear the word. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

With some the seed falls along the footpath

Many scholars support this interpretation in their commentaries. In some versions the seed appears to refer to the people. However, even in these versions, the text implies that the seed of the word has different results in different kinds of people.

Here is the meaning of the main metaphors in the parable:

(a) The seeds represent the word, which is the message from God.

(b) The sowing of the seed represents telling the message to people.

(c) The different kinds of soil represents the different people who hear the message.

This section heading should be similar to the section heading for 4:1–9. You may use the word “explained” or “Jesus explained” (instead of “Jesus told”).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus explained the parable of the sower and the soils
-or-
The four soils parable/story/illustration explained
-or-
The explanation of the parable about four kinds of people
-or-
The meaning of the parable of a man scattering seed

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 13:18–23 and Luke 8:11–15.

Paragraph 4:13–20

4:13a

Then: This verse is the beginning of a new section. The events in this section probably happened immediately after the events in 4:10–12. Here, Jesus continued speaking, but he began to explain the parable. So the Berean Standard Bible uses the conjunction Then.

Here is another way to translate this in English:

After that

In some languages, a time word or phrase is not necessary. Introduce this part of the story in a natural way in your language.

Jesus said: In 4:13b, Jesus asked a rhetorical question. So it may be more natural in your language to use the verb “asked” here rather than said. For example, the God’s Word says:

Jesus asked

to them: The pronoun them refers to the twelve apostles and other disciples (4:10a). If people in your area will think the pronoun refers to some other people, you may want to use nouns here. Some examples of translating this sentence are:

Jesus said to the disciples
-or-
Jesus asked his followers

4:13b

Do you not understand this parable?: In Greek, this clause is the first part of one rhetorical question that includes 4:13c. Together, these two parts indicate a rebuke and make an emphatic statement.

Some ways to translate this part of the rebuke and emphatic statement are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Can it be that you do not understand this parable?

• As a statement. For example:

I cannot believe that you do not understand this parable!

• As an “if” clause. For example:

If you don’t understand this story… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
But if you can’t understand this story… (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

parable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parable can refer to several types of speech such as metaphors, illustrations, and stories that were used to teach a lesson or a truth. Use an appropriate word for the parable about the sower that Jesus told in Section 4:1–9. Refer to the general word for parable that you used in 4:2a.

4:13c

Then how will you understand any of the parables?: In Greek, this is the second part of a rhetorical question. It is really a strong negative statement.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Then how will you ever understand any parable?

• As a negative statement. For example:

Then you will certainly not understand any other parable.

any of the parables: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as any of the parables are literally “all the parables.” This could be represented with either a plural form (as the Berean Standard Bible does) or with a singular form. For example, the New International Version translates this phrase as “any parable.” Use the singular or plural, whichever is most natural in your language.

Here is another example of how to translate this:

other parables

The term that you use for parables here should be general enough to include many types of wise speech, such as illustrations, metaphors, and sayings. See the note on 4:2a for translation suggestions.

© 2008 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.