Parables, Sower, Explanation
Matthew 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Matthew 13:20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
The one, however, upon the rockiness being seeded this is the one hearing the message and instantly with joy getting it.
This verse combines some of the vocabulary from the previous verse with the vocabulary from Matthew 13:5. In the Greek, the first part of this verse refers to the seed, while the later part refers to the one "getting" it. The "getting it" is the punchline, the last words in the verse. It works a lot like our "getting it" refers both to receiving something and comprehending something.
Even if the message makes you happy, you still have to "get it."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "he" is the article usually translated "the one" when not with a noun.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "that" is the article usually translated "the one" when not with a noun.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "received" should be something more like "being seeded."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "seed" is not a noun but a participle, "being seeded."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "in" is the preposition usually translated "upon."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "the same" is the pronoun usually translated "this."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "heareth" is not a noun but a participle, "hearing."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "word" means "message" or "idea."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "receiveth" is not an active verb but a participle, "receiving."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "but" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF - Wrong Form - The "seed" is not a noun but a participle, "being seeded."
- There is nothing that can be translated as "falling" in the Greek source.
- There is nothing that can be translated as "ground" in the Greek source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "refers to" is the verb "is."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "someone" is not the word usually translated as "someone."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the one" modifying "hearing" is not shown in the English translation
- WF - Wrong Form - The "hears" is not a noun but a participle, "hearing."
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "word" means "message" or "idea."
- WF - Wrong Form - The "receives" is not an active verb but a participle, "receiving."
But - The Greek word translated as"but" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the pronoun normally translated as "he."
that - -- (CW) The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the pronoun normally used to create a dependent clause.
received the seed - (WW, WF) "Received the seed" is from the verb meaning "to sow," which itself is a verbal form of the Greek word for "seed." It does not contain the Greek word usually translated as "receive." which appears below. The verb is in the form of an adjective, describing something that is sown at sometime. The verb is passive, so "being seeded."
into - (CW) The word translated as "into" means "upon," "against," "before," "by" or "on." It is not one of the Greek prepositions usually translated as "in" or "into."
stony - "Stony" is from an adjective that means "rocklike" and "stony." It is used as a noun, being introduced by an article ("the"), so "the stoniness" or "the rockiness." The metaphor here is a hardness of mind.
places, - (CW) This is not the Greek word for "places." It comes from the plural, neuter form of the article and adjective.
the same - (CW) "The same" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer." This is not the Greek pronoun that is usually translated as "the same."
is - The verb "is" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.
he -- (CW) The word translated as "he" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the pronoun normally translated as "he."
that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It is inserted because the following verb is in the wrong form.
heareth - (WF) "Heareth" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. However, it is in the form of an adjective, "hearing."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
word, -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it but it also means communication of various types so "message" often works better.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
anon - "Anon" is from an adverb which means "straightly," "directly," "forthwith," "as soon as," and "straightway."
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
joy - "Joy" is from a word that means "joy" and "delight." More about Christ's use of emotions in this article.
receiveth - (WF) The word translated as "receiveth" primarily means "take," and has many different uses as we use "take" in English. It is specifically used to mean seized with emotion, as it is here. This is also in the form of an adjective, "seizing." However, this word generally words like our word "get," meaning both to take and to receive and having a sense of understanding when you get something.
it; - -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
missing "but" -- (MW) The untranslated word "but" joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.
The -- -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
seed - (WF) "Seed" is not a noun but a verb meaning "to sow," which itself is a verbal form of the Greek word for "seed." It does not contain the Greek word usually translated as "receive." which appears below. The verb is in the form of an adjective, describing something that is sown at sometime. The verb is passive, so "being seeded."
falling -- -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "falling" in the Greek source.
on - The word translated as "on" means "upon," "against," "before," "by" or "on." It is not one of the Greek prepositions usually translated as "in" or "into."
rocky - "Rocky " is from an adjective that means "rocklike" and "stony." It is used as a noun, being introduced by an article ("the"), so "the stoniness" or "the rockiness." The metaphor here is a hardness of mind.
ground, - (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "ground" in the Greek source.
refers to - (CW) The verb "refers to" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It is singular present.
someone -- (CW) "Someone" is the Greek definite article, which when not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. This is not the pronoun usually translated in Greek as someone.
who - "Who" is translated from a Greek word that means "this," "that," "the nearer."
missing "the one" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
hears - (WF) "Hears" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. However, it is in the form of an adjective, "hearing."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
word, -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it but it also means communication of various types so "message" often works better.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
at once - "At once" is from an adverb which means "straightly," "directly," "forthwith," "as soon as," and "straightway."
receives - (WF) The word translated as "receives" primarily means "take," and has many different uses as we use "take" in English. It is specifically used to mean seized with emotion, as it is here. This is also in the form of an adjective, "seizing." However, this word generally words like our word "get," meaning both to take and to receive and having a sense of understanding when you get something.
it; - -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.
with -- "With" is the Greek word that usually means "with" or a related concept such as "among" or "by the means of." It also refers to "after" or "behind" when referring to a place, time, or pursuit.
joy - "Joy" is from a word that means "joy" and "delight." More about Christ's use of emotions in this article.
ὁ (article sg masc nom) "He" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."
δὲ (partic) "But" is from de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").
ἐπὶ (prep) "Into" is from epi. which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against."
τὰ (article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πετρώδη (adj pl neut acc) "Stony places" is from petrôdês, which is an adjective meaning "like rock," "rocky," and "stony."
σπαρείς, (part sg aor pass masc nom) "He that received the seed" is from speirô, which is a verb, not a noun. It means "to sow seed," "to scatter like seed," and "to beget offspring.
οὗτός (adj sg masc nom) "The same" is from houtos, which means "this," "that," "the nearer." As an adverb, it means "in this way," "therefore," "so much," "to such an extent," and "that is why." --
ἐστιν (verb 3rd sg pres) "Is" is from eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible." T
ὁ (article sg masc nom) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."
τὸν (article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
λόγον (noun sg masc acc) "The word" is from logos, which means "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "word," "discussion," "reckoning," and "value."
ἀκούων (part sg pres act masc nom) "He that heareth" is from akouo, which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand." -
καὶ (conj/adv) "And" is from kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
εὐθὺς (adv) "Anon" is from euthys, which means "straight," "direct," and "straight forward."
μετὰ (prep) "With" is from meta, which means "in the midst of," "among," "between," "in common," "along with," "by the aid of," "in one's dealings with," "into the middle of," "coming into," "in pursuit of," "after," "behind," "according to," and "next afterward"
χαρᾶς (noun sg fem gen) "Joy" is chara, which means "joy" and "delight."
λαμβάνων (part sg pres act masc nom) "Receiveth" is from lambano means to "take," "take hold of," "grasp," "seize," "catch," "overtake," "find out," "detect," "take as," "take [food or drugs]," "understand," "take in hand," "undertake," "take in," "hold," "get," "receive [things]," "receive hospitably," "receive in marriage," "receive as produce," "profit," "admit," "initiate," "take hold of," "lay hold on," "seize and keep hold of," "obtain possession of," "lay hands upon," "find fault with," "censure," "to apprehend with the senses," "to take hold of," and "to seize." It is also specifically used to mean "seized with emotion."
αὐτόν: (adj sg masc acc) "It" is from autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord."
The word for "sown" refers to seeds, Jesus's symbol for knowledge.
The word translated as "receiveth" means "to get" and also has the sense of understanding as in getting something.
Then he scattered another handful and pointed at a pile of rocks on the shore.
“The one, however, being seeded upon the rockiness,” he said. “This is the one hearing the message and instantly, with joy, getting it!”
He pointed to his head and raise his eyebrows as if getting an idea.