13:3a
And He told them many things in parables: This clause indicates that Jesus used parables to teach the people many things.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
He used parables to tell them many things (Good News Translation)
-or-
He taught them many things by means of stories
parables: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parables is literally “comparisons.” Parables teach a lesson or truth by showing how it is like something that people already know about. Jesus used several types of parables including metaphors, wise sayings, and stories taken from everyday life. The hearer usually has to discover the lesson for himself.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
• Use a general term in your language that can be used to describe the different types of parables that Jesus used. Here are some examples:
illustrations
-or-
metaphors
• Use a descriptive term. For example:
symbolic sayings/words/stories
• Use more than one word or descriptive term for the different types of parables that Jesus used. For example:
stories and illustrations
-or-
symbols and sayings
saying: In this context, the verb saying indicates that the following words are a parable.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
such as this one: (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and began: (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
⌊One parable⌋ he told was ⌊this⌋:
-or-
⌊and⌋ he ⌊told one⌋ saying,
If your language has a way to signal the beginning of a parable, you should consider using it here.
13:3b
farmer: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as farmer is literally “one who sows/plants (seed).” It refers to a farmer who is doing a specific type of farm work. He is sowing seeds.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
sower (English Standard Version)
-or-
a man (Good News Translation)
went out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went out probably indicates that the farmer left his house and went to his field.
to sow his seed: The word sow refers to a specific method of planting seed. In this method, a farmer throws seeds in a way that scatters the seeds to the side and in front of him. This method allowed a farmer to plant a large area quickly. This method is different than planting the seeds one by one in the ground.
This method of planting is important to this parable, because some seed accidentally fell in bad places. This method does not describe a foolish farmer.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
• Explain the method in the text:
throw seeds
-or-
scatter seeds to plant
• Include a footnote to explain this method. For example:
The Jewish custom was to scatter seeds over ground that the farmer had plowed. In this way, the farmer could plant a large area quickly, even though some seed fell in bad places.
It may also be helpful to include a picture here of a farmer scattering his seeds.
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