13:22a

The seed sown among the thorns: This clause refers to what happened when some seed fell among thorns. 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 among thorns is this:

• Use an active verb. For example:

As for the seeds that ⌊the farmer⌋ planted among thorns, that is like

• Use another type of verb. For example:

As for the thorns where some seeds fell, that is like

This clause is similar to 13:20a, so translate it in a similar way.

thorns: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as thorns refers to any kind of thorny plant. This same word occurs in 13:7a.

13:22b

is the one who hears the word: This clause is exactly the same as 13:20b. You should translate both clauses in the same way.

is: The word is indicates a comparison. It means “the situation in 13:22a represents….” In other words, sowing among thorns “is like” or “represents” someone who hears the word, but…it proves unfruitful. 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:

people who hear the message (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
those who hear God’s word (New Living Translation (2004))

13:22c

the worries of this life: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worries means “anxieties, worries, concerns.”

The phrase of this life refers to living in this world. It is contrasted with life in heaven.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the cares of the life on earth
-or-
the worries of life (God’s Word)
-or-
the worries/concerns of daily living

In some languages, it may be more natural to use a verb here rather than the noun worries. For example:

but worrying about life,
-or-
but they are so worried about daily life

13:22d

the deceitfulness of wealth: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deceitfulness describes something that deceives, tricks, or fools someone. The word riches refers to wealth/money. Money deceives people into thinking that it will make them happy, but it does not. Money also deceives people so that they seek riches more than they seek ways to follow God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

lure of riches (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
seduction/enticement of money
-or-
the lie that wealth ⌊will make one happy⌋

In some languages, it is more natural to use a verb here rather than the noun deceitfulness. For example:

wealth lead him astray
-or-
they…are fooled by the desire to get rich (Contemporary English Version)

choke the word: The verb choke refers to the way that weeds and thorns crowd other plants and prevent them from growing normally. This same word occurs in 13:7b.

Here, this word is used metaphorically. It refers to the way that “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth” keep a person’s mind too busy to think about the message of God.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

prevent the word ⌊of God⌋ from growing
-or-
crowd/press the message out ⌊of his mind⌋
-or-
cause him not to think about the message
-or-
overpower the word ⌊of God⌋ ⌊in their mind/thinking⌋

13:22e

and it becomes unfruitful: The word it refers back to “the word.” When the word of God is choked, it is made unfruitful. Like the grain plants that were crowded and did not produce a crop, the word of God was crowded out of this person’s mind/heart and did not “bear fruit.”

unfruitful: The word unfruitful means “not producing fruit.” In the New Testament, fruit is a metaphor for “doing good deeds/actions.” Here the word unfruitful refers to the word of God having no effect on the person’s life.

Here are some other ways you could translate this:

• Keep the metaphor of being unfruitful. For example:

the word becomes unfruitful
-or-
the word produces no fruit ⌊in that person’s life⌋

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

there is no response ⌊in that person’s life⌋

-or-

and so they do not act and think according to God’s message

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