OET interlinear LUKE 8:8

8:8a

Still other seed: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Still other seed introduces the fourth group of seeds. This is the final and most important group of seeds. Other ways to say this are:

And some of the seed (REB)

Other seed (NASB)

fell: Note that in this case the seeds fell, or landed, where the farmer wished them to fall.

good soil: The Greek word that the BSB translates as good in this context means “fertile” or “productive.” The dirt itself was not of higher quality, but it was not packed down, shallow, or mixed with thorns. Consider what term is used in your language for soil in which plants grow well.

8:8b

it sprang up: This clause indicates that the seeds that fell on good soil sprouted and grew into mature plants. Other ways to translate it are:

This seed grew (NLT)

the plants grew (GNT)

they sprouted and became strong plants

produced a crop: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as produced a crop here means “produced grain.”

a hundredfold: The Greek word that the BSB translates with the phrase a hundredfold literally means “a hundred times.” It means that the plants that grew from the seeds had a hundred times as many seeds as the farmer had planted. Another way to translate this is:

…the plants grew and bore grain, one hundred grains each. (GNT)

A harvest of one hundred grains for each seed planted was exceptional in Israel, though probably not impossible or miraculous. If you use footnotes to give background information, you might include one here. For example:

An average harvest for the provinces of Galilee and Judea was around ten seeds for every seed that was planted. A harvest of one hundred seeds for every seed planted was possible but was considered exceptionally good.

8:8c

As Jesus said this, He called out: This part of the verse indicates that Jesus told the parable in 8:1–8b and then said, “He who has ears to hear…” (8:8d).However, some commentators (Arndt, Fitzmyer, Hendriksen, and Plummer) and versions (NASB, “As He said these things, He would call out”) suggest that the imperfect ἐφώνει has iterative force. That is, he spoke these words repeatedly during or after the telling of the parable. Some other ways to say this part of the verse are:

After he had said this, he called out (GW)

When Jesus had finished speaking, he said (CEV)

And Jesus concluded (GNT)

Then Jesus said loudly to the crowd

He called out: The clause He called out introduces the saying in 8:8d. The clause indicates that Jesus spoke in a loud voice.

8:8d

He who has ears to hear, let him hear: With this saying, Jesus urged the crowd to think carefully about the parable that they had just heard. He implied that they should do more than just listen to it. They should understand its meaning and then act on what they learned from it.

This saying assumes that everyone in the crowd had ears that were able to hear. Jesus said it to everyone who was listening to him. Other ways to say this are:

If/since you have ears that can hear, then hear.

Those who do not have ears in vain, let them hear.

Notice that these examples use forms such as “you” or “them” instead of “he” and “him.” Use a natural way in your language to tell a saying like this to people.

In some languages, it may be more natural to express the meaning without mentioning ears. For example:

Whoever can hear, let him hear.

hear…hear: The word hear is used twice in this verse part but with slightly different meanings. The first hear refers to the physical ability to hear. The second hear has the sense of “listen attentively/carefully, understand, and be ready to obey.” Other ways to translate this are:

listen well/carefully

listen and understand (NLT)

give attention

consider/heed carefully what you hear

let him hear: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as let him hear is an indirect command. It does not express permission. Another way to translate this is to use a word like “should.” For example:

Anyone who has ears for listening should listen! (NJB)

In some languages it may be more natural to use a direct command. For example:

You people who can hear me, listen! (NCV)

In some languages it may be necessary to supply some information and indicate that the listener should listen to Jesus or to his parable/words. For example:

If you have ears to hear, listen to me!

You who have ears to hear should listen to my words/parable.