LUKE 8:15 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But the ones on the good soil, these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold it securely and bear fruit with endurance.

UST But the seeds that fell on the fertile ground show what happens when people hear the message about God and accept it with great sincerity. They make a firm commitment, and because they keep this commitment, they become spiritually mature.

BSB But the [seeds] on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, [who] hear the word, cling to [it], and by persevering produce a crop.

BLB And that in the good soil, these are those who, having heard the word, keep it in a worthy and good heart and bring forth fruit by perseverance.

AICNT But the ones on the good ground, these are the ones who, having heard the word [[of God]][fn] with a [good and][fn] noble heart, hold it fast and bear fruit with patience.

8:15, of God: Some manuscripts include. D(05)

8:15, good and: Absent from some manuscripts. D(05) Latin(it)

OEB But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.

WEBBE Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.

LSV And that in the good ground: these are they who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, retain [it], and bear fruit in continuance.

FBV The seeds sown on good earth are those who are honest and do what is right. They hear the message of truth, hold on to it, and through their perseverance produce a good harvest.

TCNT But the seed in the good soil are those who hear the word, hold fast to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

T4T But some people are like the good soil. They hear God’s message and accept it. They become good, honest people, and they continue doing things that please God [MET].”

LEB But the seed on the good soil—these are the ones who, after[fn] hearing the word, hold fast to it[fn] with a noble and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

8:15 *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hearing”) which is understood as temporal

8:15 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE And those in the good earth are those who, having given ear to the word, keep it with a good and true heart, and in quiet strength give fruit.

Moff As for the seed in the good soil, that means those who hear and hold fast the word in a good and sound heart and so bear fruit stedfastly.

Wymth But as for that in the good ground, it means those who, having listened to the Message with open minds and in a right spirit, hold it fast, and patiently yield a return.

ASV And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.

DRA But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

YLT 'And that in the good ground: These are they, who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, do retain [it], and bear fruit in continuance.

Drby But that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

RV And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.

SLT And that in the good earth, they are they which, in a fair and good heart, having heard, keep the word, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Wbstr But that on the good ground are they, who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it , and bring forth fruit with patience.

KJB-1769 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

KJB-1611 But that on the good ground, are they, which in an honest and good heart hauing heard the word, keepe it, and bring foorth fruite with patience.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps But that which fell on ye good groude, are they, which with a pure and good hearte heare the worde, and kepe it, and bryng foorth fruite through pacience.
(But that which fell on ye/you_all good ground, are they, which with a pure and good heart hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit through patience.)

Gnva But that which fell in good ground, are they which with an honest and good heart heare the worde, and keepe it, and bring forth fruite with patience.
(But that which fell in good ground, are they which with an honest and good heart hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. )

Cvdl But that on the good grounde, are they that heare the worde, and kepe it in a pure good hert, and brynge forth frute in pacience.
(But that on the good ground, are they that hear the word, and keep it in a pure good heart, and bring forth fruit in patience.)

TNT That in the good grounde are they which with a good and pure hert heare the worde and kepe it and bringe forth frute with pacience.
(That in the good ground are they which with a good and pure heart hear the word and keep it and bring forth fruit with patience. )

Wycl But that that fel in to good erthe, ben these that, in a good herte, and best heren the word, and holdun, and brengen forth fruyt in pacience.
(But that that fell in to good earth, been these that, in a good heart, and best hearing the word, and held, and brengen forth fruit in patience.)

Luth Das aber auf dem guten Lande sind, die das Wort hören und behalten in einem feinen, guten Herzen und bringen Frucht in Geduld.
(The but on/in/to to_him good land are, the the word hear/listen and keep in on fine, good heart(s) and bring/get fruit in Geduld.)

ClVg Quod autem in bonam terram: hi sunt qui in corde bono et optimo audientes verbum retinent, et fructum afferunt in patientia.[fn]
(That however in/into/on good the_earth/land: these are who/which in/into/on heart good and optimo hearing the_word/saying retinent, and fruit afferunt in/into/on patience/endurance. )

8.15 In terram bonam, etc. In bonos auditores qui verbum audire satagunt, et in ventrem memoriæ recondunt, et sic opportuno tempore fructum operationis proferunt, inter prospera et adversa sæculi patientes. Et bona terra cum patientia fructum reddit, quia bona agit, et mala proximorum æquanimiter tolerat, et dum humiliter flagella suspiciunt, post flagella in requiem suscipiuntur.

8.15 In the_earth/land good, etc. In goods listeners who/which the_word/saying to_hear satagunt, and in/into/on belly memoriæ recondunt, and so at_the_right_time at_the_time fruit operation they_bring_forth, between prosperous and adverse of_the_world/of_the_ages patientes. And good(s) earth/land when/with patience/endurance fruit returns, because good(s) acts, and evil of_neighbours equalnimiter tolerat, and while humbly flagella suspiciunt, after flagella in/into/on rest/repose they_undertakeur.

UGNT τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσιν, καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ.
(to de en taʸ kalaʸ gaʸ, houtoi eisin hoitines en kardia kalaʸ kai agathaʸ, akousantes ton logon kateⱪousin, kai karpoforousin en hupomonaʸ.)

SBL-GNT τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσιν καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ.
(to de en taʸ kalaʸ gaʸ, houtoi eisin hoitines en kardia kalaʸ kai agathaʸ akousantes ton logon kateⱪousin kai karpoforousin en hupomonaʸ.)

RP-GNT Τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσιν, καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ.
(To de en taʸ kalaʸ gaʸ, houtoi eisin hoitines en kardia kalaʸ kai agathaʸ, akousantes ton logon kateⱪousin, kai karpoforousin en hupomonaʸ.)

TC-GNT Τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ, ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον κατέχουσι, καὶ καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ.
(To de en taʸ kalaʸ gaʸ, houtoi eisin hoitines en kardia kalaʸ kai agathaʸ, akousantes ton logon kateⱪousi, kai karpoforousin en hupomonaʸ. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:9–15: Jesus explained the parable about four types of soil

In 8:9–10 Jesus explained why he taught in parables. Then in 8:11–15 he explained the meaning of the parable in 8:1–8b. The basic meaning of Jesus’ explanation is clear. However, there are questions about the meaning of the seed in this section. In 8:11 the seed refers to the word of God. In 8:12–15 what is sown seems to refer to the people who hear the word. This has led to several interpretations for the seed in 8:12–15.

The interpretation that the Notes follows is that in 8:12–15 the seed continues to represent the word. The introductory expressions such as “those on/beside/in…are…” (RSV) refer generally to four different ways in which people hear and respond to the word.

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 represent the way different people hear the message.

This section heading should be similar to the section heading for 8:1–10. You may use the word “explained” or “Jesus explained” (instead of “Jesus told”).

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Jesus explained the parable of the sower and the soils

The parable/story/illustration about the four soils 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 Mark 4:13–20.

8:15a

But the seeds on good soil are those

But the example/picture of seeds that fell on good ground represents people who
But the seeds scattered on the good ground illustrate people who

But: The Greek word that the BSB translates as But here introduces the last example in a series, the one that is different from the rest. In some languages a conjunction may not be needed. Introduce this example in a natural way in your language.

the seeds on good soil are those: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the seeds on good soil introduces what happens when seeds fall on good ground. This general situation, not just the seeds, represents people who hear God’s message. Some ways to translate this are:

When seeds fall on good soil, it is like when people hear God’s message…

The picture of the seeds scattered on good soil represents the kind of people who hear God’s message…

are those: For the Greek word that the BSB translates literally as are, some English versions use a fuller phrase because that is natural style in English. For example:

stands for those (NIV)

8:15b

with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it,

hear the word of God and continue to think about it carefully/nobly with sincere hearts/minds.
hear God’s message and keep it in their minds with goodness and honesty.

with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it: The phrase a noble and good heart describes people who keep the word of God in their hearts/minds. There are two views about exactly what a noble and good heart describes here:

It describes the manner in which the people retain the word. Most English versions express this idea by using an idiom that seems to express location. For example:
The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart… (GNT) (GNT, RSV, CEV, KJV, GW, NET)
It describes the character of the people who hear the word. They have noble and good hearts. For example:
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it… (NLT) (BSB, NIV, NLT, NJB, REB, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). However, the two interpretations are not very different, because people who retain God’s message in good and noble hearts must have good and noble hearts.

In this context the word heart is an idiom to describe the manner in which these people retain God’s word. Other ways to translate with a noble and good heart…cling to it are:

hold to it in a noble and good way

cling to it with honesty and goodness

keep thinking about it well and honestly

noble and good heart: The Greek words that the BSB translates as noble and good are very close in meaning.A number of commentators point out that this was a common expression in Greek literature which “conveys the Hellenistic ideal of an honourable character” (Marshall). Jesus had already used each of these Greek words alone to describe the soil as “good soil” (8:8a and 8:15a). The two words are probably used together here for emphasis. Both words can be used to describe many types of goodness. You should use a word or phrase in your language that is natural to describe a good way to cling to God’s word.

Some ways to translate noble and good heart here are:

Use two different words for “good.” Some examples in English could be:
in a good and fitting/proper way
in a manner that is right and good
carefully and honestly
Use one word or phrase that emphasizes the meaning of the Greek phrase. For example:
in a truly/very good way
with great carefulness
just as they should

heart: See the note on “hearts” at 8:12b.

hear the word, cling to it: The Greek phrases that the BSB translates as hear the word, cling to it are literally “hearing the word, retain (it).” The verb “retain” is the main verb. It indicates that retaining the word is the action that is in focus here. Indicate that in a natural way in your language.

cling to it: The Greek word that the BSB translates as cling to it means “keep it” or “hold fast to it.” In this context, this indicates that the people remember it and continue to think about it and believe it. These people do not forget or discard the message from God that they have heard. They value it and treasure it.

8:15c

and by persevering produce a crop.

By remaining firm/steadfast they are like plants that bring forth fruit/grain for harvest.
And good things/deeds result from the way they continue to believe, even when they face difficulties.
By continuing to believe God’s message, they live in a way that pleases God.

by persevering produce a crop: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as by persevering is literally “in patience/perseverance.” It describes someone who patiently perseveres in spite of difficulties. In this context it describes people who patiently continue to believe God’s message and obey it. The result of this persevering is that they produce a crop, that is, God’s message produces good results through them. This contrasts with the people in 8:13–14 who stopped believing God’s message.

produce a crop: The Greek word that the BSB translates as produce a crop can also be translated as “bring forth fruit.” This is a metaphor. Jesus does not identify what the crop or “fruit” refers to. It probably refers to good deeds that are the result of believing and obeying God’s message.The majority of commentators understand “bear fruit” (here and in 8:14c) in the sense of some kind of good deeds. They are the results of or demonstration of faith. The alternative view is to see faith itself as the fruit. Just as grain that can be harvested accomplishes the purpose of the farmer, so the people represented by the seed scattered on the good soil accomplish the purpose for which Jesus proclaimed the message. They hear the word, retain it, and so produce the fruit of faith (= the fruit which is faith).

Some other ways to translate produce a crop here are:

Use a simile. For example:
they are like plants that produce fruit/grain for harvest
Make the meaning more explicit. For example:
like plants that produce fruit, they produce good results
they live/act according to God’s message
they live in a way that pleases God

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὸ δὲ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ, οὗτοί εἰσιν οἵτινες

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Δέ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ οὗτοι εἰσίν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καί ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τόν λόγον κατέχουσιν καί καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ)

Jesus continues to explain the figurative meanings of the seeds that fell in different places. Alternate translation: [In the parable, the seeds that fell on the good soil represent people]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον

˓having˒_heard (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Δέ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ οὗτοι εἰσίν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καί ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τόν λόγον κατέχουσιν καί καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ)

Jesus uses the term word to refer to the message that people share by using words. Alternate translation: [when they hear the message]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ

in in ˓a˒_heart good by (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τό Δέ ἐν τῇ καλῇ γῇ οὗτοι εἰσίν οἵτινες ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καί ἀγαθῇ ἀκούσαντες τόν λόγον κατέχουσιν καί καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ)

The terms honest and good mean similar things. Jesus uses the two terms together for emphasis and clarity. You do not need to repeat both words in your translation if that might be confusing for your readers. Alternate translation: [with genuine intentions]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν καρδίᾳ καλῇ καὶ ἀγαθῇ

In this expression, the heart represents the thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: [with genuine intentions]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

καρποφοροῦσιν ἐν ὑπομονῇ

˓are˒_bearing_fruit by endurance

Here, fruit means spiritual maturity that is evidenced by godly character and loving actions. Alternate translation: [because they persevere, they mature into people of godly character who act out of love]

Parallel LUKE 8:15

Section 8:9–15: Jesus explained the parable about four types of soil

8:15a

8:15b

8:15c