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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mat C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24 C25 C26 C27 C28
Mat 13 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57
OET (OET-LV) Everyone hearing the message of_the kingdom and not understanding, the evil one is_coming and is_snatching the one having_been_sown in the heart of_him.
This is the one having_been_sown by the road.
OET (OET-RV) Everyone who hears the message about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in that person’s heart. That’s the seed that landed by the path.
In this section, Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the sower. As you translate this section, it is important to understand and remember the main elements in this parable and what they represent.
There are three main metaphors in this parable:
The seed represents the message about the kingdom.
The sowing of the seed represents telling the message to people.
The four types of soil represents four types of people who hear the message.
The first type of soil is the soil along the path. This soil represents people whom Satan causes to forget the message of the kingdom. The second type of soil is the rocky soil. This soil represents people who initially accept the message, but when troubles or persecution happen to them, they quickly reject the message. The third type of soil is the thorny soil. This soil represents people who accept the message, but worries about daily living cause them to not do anything for God. Finally, the forth type of soil is the good soil. This soil represents people who hear and understand the message, and the message produces results in their lives.
In these verses, the Greek text sometimes keeps the metaphor and sometimes explains the meaning of the metaphor. For example 13:19c–d has: “the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” The words “snatches away what was sown” keep the metaphor of birds eating the grain that the farmer sowed. But the words “the evil one comes” explains the meaning of the metaphor of “birds” (13:4c).
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Jesus explained the parable of the four soils
The Parable of the Sower Explained (NRSV)
There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 4:13–20 and Luke 8:11–15.
Before you translate 13:19, carefully consider the most natural way in your language to order the clauses. In some languages, it will be more natural to put 13:19e first. Putting this clause first will follow the same order as in 13:20, 13:22, and 13:23. Compare the example below:
aWhen anyone hears the word of the kingdom band does not understand it, cthe evil one comes and snatches away dwhat has been sown in his heart. eThis is what was sown along the path. (ESV)
eThe path/road that the seeds fell upon represents apeople who hear the message about the kingdom, bbut they do not understand its meaning. cThen the evil one comes and causes them to forget dthe message they heard.
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom
When a person hears the message about the kingdom of God
Some people hear the message/news about God’s kingdom/rule,
When anyone hears the message: The Greek word that the BSB translates as message is more literally “word,” but also means “talk,” “news.”
In some languages, it may be natural to use the plural “people” instead of a singular noun. For example:
When some people hear the word
Those who hear the message (GNT)
the kingdom: The word kingdom refers to “the kingdom of God” or “kingdom of heaven” as Matthew often wrote. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
the kingdom of God
God’s rule/kingship
For advice on translating the phrase “the kingdom of God,” see the note at 12:28b.
but does not understand it,
and/but does not understand it,
but they do not understand the meaning of the message.
but does not understand it: There is a contrast here that the BSB indicates with the conjunction but. The contrast is between hearing the message and understanding it.
the evil one comes and snatches away
the evil one comes and grabs
Then Satan, the evil one, comes and seizes
So the devil comes and causes them to forget
the evil one: This phrase refers to Satan. He is compared to birds (in 13:4c) who come and eat the seed along the path.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
Translate this phrase literally and include a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:
“The evil one” refers to Satan, the leader of demons.
Include the name Satan in the text. For example:
the evil one, namely Satan,
Satan, the evil one,
Use the name only. For example:
Satan
snatches away: The Greek word that the BSB translates as snatches away means “remove forcefully.”
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
Keep the metaphor of a bird and Satan taking away the seed. For example:
grabs
seizes
takes away (NCV)
Explain the meaning of the metaphor. Satan snatches away the seed/word in the sense that he makes the person “forget” what they have heard. For example:
causes them to forget
what was sown in his heart.
the message that was sown/planted in his heart.
the message that someone told them.
the message that they heard.
what was sown in his heart: This phrase explains what Jesus meant in 13:3b when he said that the farmer sows seed that falls along a path. The seed represents the message of the kingdom. Sowing the seed represents telling/announcing the message. The soil along a path represents the heart of certain people.
Notice that in this explanation, the phrase what was sown keeps the metaphor. This phrase refers to the message about the kingdom. On the other hand, the phrase in his heart explains part of the metaphor.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
In some languages, it is possible to mix the metaphor and the meaning. For example:
what was planted in that person’s heart (NCV)
In other languages, it will be necessary to explain the entire metaphor. For example:
the message which was put in his heart/mind
In other languages, it will be necessary to leave in his heart untranslated. For example:
the message that he heard
the message that someone told him
in his heart: The word heart refers to the inner being of a person.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
in his mind
in him (GW)
As mentioned above, in some languages, it will not be necessary to translate this phrase.
This is the seed sown along the path.
This is the meaning of the seeds that were sowed/scattered on the path.
That is the meaning of what happened to the seeds that the farmer sowed/scattered on the path.
This is the seed sown along the path: This clause indicates that 13:19a–d is the explanation of what happened when seed fell in the soil along/on the path.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
This is like the seed sown by the road-side (JBP)
This is what the seed planted along the road illustrates (GW)
That is the meaning of what happened to the seed which the farmer sowed/scattered on the path.
Your translation should not indicate that the seed represents the person who hears the message. The seed is the message.
This: The word This refers back to what Jesus just said in 13:19a–d. In some languages, it may be more natural to use “that” here.
sown: Here are some other ways to translate this word:
planted (GW)
scattered/thrown
along the path: If you translated along the path in 13:4b as “on the path,” you should do the same thing here.
(reordered) The path on which some seed fell shows/illustrates people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
Here, Jesus is using the possessive form to describe a word that is about the kingdom. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the word concerning the kingdom]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
τὸν λόγον
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
Matthew is using the term word to mean something spoken in words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the proclamation] or [the news]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ
˓is˒_coming the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
Here Jesus speaks about the message about the kingdom as if it were seed that had been sown in a person’s heart. He speaks of the evil one as if he were a bird that swooped down and snatched away the seed. Since these figures of speech connect to the parable that Jesus told, if possible you should preserve them or express the ideas in simile form. Alternate translation: [the evil one comes like a bird and snatches away the word, which had been sown like a seed in his heart]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ὁ πονηρὸς
the the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
Here, the phrase the evil one refers to the devil, Satan. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [the devil] or [the evil one, Satan,]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, you could use an indefinite subject. Alternate translation: [what someone sowed]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ
in the heart ˱of˲_him
In Jesus’s culture, the heart is the place where humans think and feel. If it would be helpful in your language, you could translate heart by referring to the place where humans think and feel in your culture or by expressing the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [in his head] or [in his thoughts]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
αὐτοῦ
˱of˲_him
Although the term his is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [his or her] or [that person’s]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
Here Jesus speaks about what happens to this person as if it were what happened in the parable when the seed was sown beside the road. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: [When this happens, it is like what happened to the seed that was sown beside the road]
Note 9 topic: writing-pronouns
οὗτός
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
The pronoun This refers to the person whom Jesus has described in the previous sentence. If this is not clear for your readers, you could refer to the person more directly. Alternate translation: [That person] or [He]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς
the the_‹one› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Παντός ἀκούοντος τόν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καί μή συνιέντος ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός καί ἁρπάζει τό ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ Οὗτος ἐστίν ὁ παρά τήν ὁδόν σπαρείς)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was the farmer who was sowing seed. Alternate translation: [what the farmer sowed beside the road]
13:19 don’t understand it: Responding to the message of the Kingdom is directly related to discerning its significance.
OET (OET-LV) Everyone hearing the message of_the kingdom and not understanding, the evil one is_coming and is_snatching the one having_been_sown in the heart of_him.
This is the one having_been_sown by the road.
OET (OET-RV) Everyone who hears the message about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in that person’s heart. That’s the seed that landed by the path.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.