8:12a
The seeds along the path are those who hear: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The seeds along the path introduces what happens when some seeds fall along the path. This general situation, not just the seeds, represents people who hear God’s message. It may be helpful to translate this as:
When seeds fall on the path, that is like when people hear ⌊God’s message⌋…
-or-
The picture of the seeds ⌊scattered⌋ on the path represent ⌊the kind of⌋ people who hear ⌊God’s message⌋…
along the path: Translate this phrase as you did in 8:5b.
8:12b
but: In this context the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but implies that the devil comes soon after the people hear the word. Other English versions say “and then” (New International Version), “then” (Revised Standard Version), “or “but then” (New Living Translation (1996)). Use a natural connection in your language.
the devil comes and takes away the word: This part of the verse explains the meaning of the birds devouring the seeds in 8:5. The devil is like the birds. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explanation more explicit. For example:
the devil, ⌊like the birds,⌋ comes and takes away the word
-or-
⌊like the birds that eat the seeds,⌋ the devil comes and takes away the word
the devil: The phrase the devil is another name for Satan. Both names refer to the same being. You may need to use the same term for Satan and the devil in your translation to make this clear.
The term the devil refers to the chief or leader of all the evil spirits. He is the enemy of God and God’s people. Here are some ways to translate the devil:
• Use a local name or idiom that refers to the chief of all demons.
• Use a descriptive phrase such as
the chief/leader of the evil spirits
-or-
the spirit enemy of God
Try to use a term that will be acceptable to churches in the area. It is suggested that you also add a footnote or glossary entry that further explains who the devil is. For example:
The devil is the leader of all the evil spirits or demons. Once he was an angel in heaven, but he rebelled against God. God expelled him from heaven, and now he tempts people on earth. Other names for him in the Bible are “Beelzebul,” “Satan,” “the Evil One,” “the Enemy,” and “the Tempter.”
takes away the word from their hearts: This phrase indicates that Satan causes people to forget or ignore God’s message. Another way to express this meaning is:
causes them to forget the word/message
The word hearts is an idiom here. It does not refer literally to the part of the body called the heart. The Jews considered the heart to be the part of a person that thinks about things and remembers them. Some languages may have a similar idiom that uses a different part of the body, such as the stomach or liver. Other languages may express the meaning without an idiom, as in the example above.
8:12c
so that they may not believe and be saved: This is a purpose clause. It explains the reason why the devil takes away the word from the hearts of some people who hear God’s word. The devil does not want them to believe the word and be saved. In some languages it may be helpful to make this clear by saying:
He does not want them to believe and be saved.
believe and be saved: The actions believe and be saved are closely connected. The text implies that a person is saved by believing, It implies that being saved is the result of believing. Other ways to express this connection are:
be saved by/through believing
-or-
believe and be saved as a result
believe: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as believe here refers to having confidence in God’s message. A person who has this confidence in the message accepts it and obeys it. In this context the word believe implies that the person who accepts God’s message entrusts himself to God.
Some other ways to translate this are:
believe/accept ⌊the word⌋
-or-
believe and trust ⌊the word⌋
See believe, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.
be saved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be saved means to “be rescued from danger or trouble.” In this context it refers to being rescued from the spiritual dangers of sin and the punishment from God that results from sinning.
The verb be saved is passive. It some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb form and indicate that God is the one who saves. For example:
so that they may not believe and ⌊God⌋ would save/rescue them
In some languages it may be necessary to say what God would save these people from. For example:
be saved ⌊from sin⌋
-or-
be rescued ⌊from punishment for sin⌋
See save, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.
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