MARK 4:14 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:13–20: Jesus explained the parable about four types of soil

In this section, Jesus talked about the meaning of the parable that he had just told. The basic meaning of Jesus’ explanation is clear. However, there are questions about the meaning of the seed in this section. In 4:14, the seed refers to the word. In 4:15–20, what is sown seems to refer to the people who hear the word. This has led to several interpretations for the seed in 4:15–20.

The interpretation that the Notes follows is that in 4:15–20 the seed continues to represent the word. The introductory expressions such as “these/others…are the ones sown” (RSV) refer to what happens when the word falls into different types of soil. It represents what happens when different types of people hear the word. For example, the REB says:

With some the seed falls along the footpath

Many scholars support this interpretation in their commentaries. In some versions the seed appears to refer to the people. However, even in these versions, the text implies that the seed of the word has different results in different kinds of people.

Here is the meaning of the main metaphors in the parable:

The seeds represent the word, which is the message from God.
The sowing of the seed represents telling the message to people.
The different kinds of soil represents the different people who hear the message.

This section heading should be similar to the section heading for 4:1–9. You may use the word “explained” or “Jesus explained” (instead of “Jesus told”).

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus explained the parable of the sower and the soils

The four soils parable/story/illustration explained

The explanation of the parable about four kinds of people

The meaning of the parable of a man scattering seed

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 13:18–23 and Luke 8:11–15.

4:14

The farmer sows the word.

The farmer sows the word of God.
Here is the meaning of the parable. The one sowing/scattering seed is like someone speaking the word of God.

This verse begins the explanation of the parable. It may be more natural in your language to indicate that. For example:

The meaning of the parable is this: The farmer…

The farmer sows the word: The clause The farmer sows the word is a metaphor that explains the events of the parable. The farmer represents a person who tells the gospel to others. However, the phrase the word is part of the explanation. It may be more natural in your language to mention the seed also before explaining what it means. For example:

The farmer sows the seed that represents someone preaching the word.

Someone telling the word of God to others is like the farmer sowing/scattering the seed.

The farmer: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as The farmer is literally “the one who sows.” It is the same phrase that is used in 4:3b. You should translate it in the same way here.

sows: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sows refers to a method of planting seeds. The farmer planted the seeds by throwing them to the side and in front of himself. This same word occurs in 4:3b.

the word: The phrase the word refers to God’s word, that is, what God’s says. If people in your area will not understand that, you may want to include the implied words. Here are some examples:

the word of God

God’s message (NCV)

The phrase “the word of God” means “the word that comes from God” or “the message that God has made known.” Jesus referred primarily to his own teaching.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ σπείρων τὸν λόγον σπείρει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ σπείρων τόν λόγον σπείρει)

Here Jesus speaks about what the word as if it were what the sower sows in the parable. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: [what the sower sows is like the word]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τὸν λόγον σπείρει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ σπείρων τόν λόγον σπείρει)

See how you translated “sow” in [4:4](../04/04.md). Alternate translation: [throws the word like seeds over the ground] or [scatters the word like seeds over the field]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸν λόγον

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ σπείρων τόν λόγον σπείρει)

Jesus is using the term word to mean the gospel, which people preach using words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the gospel]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

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.

OET interlinear MARK 4:14

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 4:13–20: Jesus explained the parable about four types of soil

4:14

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)