8:13a

The seeds on rocky ground are those: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The seeds on rocky ground are those introduces what happens when seeds fall on ground that has solid rock underneath. This general situation, not just the seeds, represents people who hear God’s message. Some ways to translate this are:

When seeds fall on the rock, it is like when people hear ⌊God’s message⌋…
-or-
The picture of the seeds ⌊scattered⌋ on the rock represent ⌊the kind of⌋ people who hear ⌊God’s message⌋…

See the note at 8:6a for ways to translate on rocky ground. Translate this phrase in the same way as you did at 8:6a.

who hear the word and receive it with joy: In some languages it may be helpful to change the order of events here. For example:

who joyfully accept the word when they hear it

receive it with joy: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as receive it with joy means “are happy to accept/believe God’s message.”

8:13b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as but is often translated as “and” in English. However, here it introduces something that is the opposite of what one might expect from the previous verse part. That is the reason why most English versions translate it as “but” in this context. Translate this connection in a way that is natural in your language.

they have no root: Here Jesus compared the people to the plants on the rock that could not develop strong roots. For these people, the phrase have no root is a figure of speech. It probably means that they are not stable or firm in believing the word (8:13c).

Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Translate this as a simile:

they are ⌊like plants⌋ without roots
-or-
they are ⌊unstable like plants⌋ without roots

• Translate only the meaning of the phrase:

they are unstable
-or-
they are changeable

8:13c

They believe for a season: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as They believe for a season indicates that these people believe God’s message for a short time.

believe: The word believe is the same word as in 8:12c. See the note there for translation advice.

8:13d

in the time of testing: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the time of testing means “when they are tested” or “when hard things happen to them.” Sad or difficult things that happen to these people test whether they truly believe. If they continue to believe the word and act on it even when they are tested, they prove that they really believe.

they fall away: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as they fall away means “they stop believing.”

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