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MAT 13:1-9

The Parable of the Sower

1On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

2And large crowds gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and sat down — and the whole crowd stood on the shore.

3And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Look, the sower went out to sow.

4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the road, and the birds came and devoured them.

5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil.

6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.

7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain — some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

9Let the one who has ears hear."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Galilee, agriculture was the backbone of daily life, and sowing seeds was a familiar activity. The parable’s imagery would have resonated deeply with rural listeners, who understood the challenges of farming in a region with varied terrain. The 'road' was not just any path but a hard-packed, well-trodden track where seeds could not penetrate the soil, making them easy prey for birds. 'Rocky places' referred to thin soil over bedrock, where seeds might sprout quickly but wither without deep roots. 'Thorns' were invasive weeds that competed fiercely for nutrients, choking out crops. The 'good soil' represented fertile, well-prepared land, yielding a bountiful harvest. Jesus’ use of (parable) would have been understood as a teaching tool that concealed deeper truths, requiring reflection and insight. For agrarian listeners, the parable’s agricultural metaphors would have been immediately accessible, while its spiritual implications invited deeper contemplation about receptivity to divine teaching.

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How other translations render this

MAT 13:1

KJV
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
BSB
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.
Koinōnos
On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

MAT 13:2

KJV
And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
BSB
Such large crowds gathered around Him that He got into a boat and sat down, while all the people stood on the shore.
Koinōnos
And large crowds gathered to him, so that he got into a boat and sat down — and the whole crowd stood on the shore.

MAT 13:3

KJV
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
BSB
And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Koinōnos
And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Look, the sower went out to sow.

MAT 13:4

KJV
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
BSB
And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
Koinōnos
And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the road, and the birds came and devoured them.

MAT 13:5

KJV
Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
BSB
Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
Koinōnos
Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil.

MAT 13:6

KJV
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
BSB
But when the sun rose, the seedlings were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
Koinōnos
But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.

MAT 13:7

KJV
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
BSB
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings.
Koinōnos
Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

MAT 13:8

KJV
But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
BSB
Still other seed fell on good soil and produced a crop—a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold.
Koinōnos
Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain — some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

MAT 13:9

KJV
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
BSB
He who has ears, let him hear.”
Koinōnos
Let the one who has ears hear.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 13:3

  • parables:The word translated 'parables' refers to a story or saying that places two things side-by-side for comparison, often to illustrate a spiritual truth through a familiar earthly example.

MAT 13:4

  • road,:The term used here for 'road' or 'way' often referred to a well-trodden path or track, not necessarily a paved or constructed road as we might imagine today.

MAT 13:5

  • rocky places:The phrase translated 'rocky places' describes ground that is shallow, with a layer of rock just beneath the surface, preventing deep root growth.

MAT 13:7

  • thorns,:The word translated 'thorns' refers to various thorny or prickly plants, often weeds, that would choke out other vegetation by competing for resources.