13:20a

The seed sown on rocky ground: This clause indicates that another explanation is coming. It is the explanation of what happened when some seed fell on rocky ground. Be careful not to imply that the seed is being compared to a person. The comparison is to the entire situation.

This clause is passive. Here are some ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

⌊The meaning of what happened to⌋ the seeds that were planted on rocky places is this:

• Use an active verb. For example:

As for the seeds that ⌊the farmer⌋ planted on bedrock, that is like

• Use another type of verb. For example:

As for the shallow ground where some seeds fell, that is like

sown: Some English translations (like the New International Version and Good News Translation) translate sown here as “fell.” This indicates that the farmer did not sow the seeds on the rocky ground on purpose.

rocky ground: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rocky ground is the same word that occurs in 13:5a. It refers to ground that has a layer of solid rock underneath. There is not much soil on top of the solid rock. This clause does not refer to soil and rocks mixed together.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

shallow soil with underlying rock
-or-

⌊solid⌋ rock with a thin layer of soil
-or-
bedrock where there is only a little soil on top

13:20b

is: The word is indicates a comparison. It means “the situation in 13:20a represents….” In other words, sowing on rocky ground “is like” or “represents” someone who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. For example:

represents (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
stand for (Good News Translation)

the one who hears the word: The word one refers to a certain type of person. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural word here. For example:

the people who gladly hear the message (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
those who hear the message (New Living Translation (2004))

the word: This word refers to the “message,” “talk,” or “news” of the kingdom. You should translate the word in the same way as you translated it in 13:19a (Berean Standard Bible: “the message”).

13:20c

at once: Here are some other ways to translate this word:

without hesitation
-or-
immediately (English Standard Version)
-or-
as soon as they hear it (Good News Translation)

receives it with joy: The word receives indicates that the person accepts the message about God’s kingdom. He accepts it and is happy.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

welcomes it…with joy (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
accepts it…with joy (Revised English Bible)

-or-

believes it and is happy

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