MAT 13:19 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, pink:genitive/possessor, 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 Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not understanding, the evil one comes and snatches away what had been sown in his heart. This is what was sown beside the road.

UST Some people hear the message about God’s kingdom, but they do not learn from it. Then Satan comes and takes the message they heard away from their minds. These people are like the seeds that fell on the path.

13:19 Literally the one sown; also in verses 20, 22, and 23

BLB Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not understanding, the evil one comes and snatches away that having been sown in his heart. This is the one having been sown on the path.

AICNT When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches what has been sown in his heart; this is the one sown along the path.

OEB When anyone hears the message of the kingdom without understanding it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in their mind. This is the person meant by the seed which was sown along the path.

WEBBE When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.

LSV Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom, and not understanding—the evil one comes, and snatches that which has been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.

FBV When people hear the message about the kingdom and don't understand it, the evil one comes along and rips out what was sown in them. This is what happens to the seeds sown on the path.

TCNT When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and [fn]snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

13:19 snatches ¦ takes ANT

T4T The people who hear about how God rules over people’s lives and do not understand what they have heard are like the path where some of the seeds fell. Satan, the Evil One, comes and causes these people to forget [MET] what they have heard [MET].

LEB When[fn] anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it,[fn] the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is what was sown on the side of the path.

13:19 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“hears”)

13:19 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE When the word of the kingdom comes to anyone, and the sense of it is not clear to him, then the Evil One comes, and quickly takes away that which was put in his heart. He is the seed dropped by the wayside.

Moff When anyone hears the word of the Realm and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart; that is the man who is sown 'on the road.'

Wymth When a man hears the Message concerning the Kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil one comes and catches away what has been sown in his heart. This is he who has received the seed by the road-side.

ASV When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.

DRA When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side.

YLT Every one hearing the word of the reign, and not understanding — the evil one doth come, and doth catch that which hath been sown in his heart; this is that sown by the way.

Drby From every one who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand [it], the wicked one comes and catches away what was sown in his heart: this is he that is sown by the wayside.

RV When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.
(When any one heareth/hears the word of the kingdom, and understandeth/understands it not, then cometh/comes the evil one, and snatcheth away that which hath/has been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. )

SLT Every one hearing, and not understanding, the evil one comes, and carries off that sown in his heart. This is he having sown by the way.

Wbstr When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one , and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.

KJB-1769 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
( When any one heareth/hears the word of the kingdom, and understandeth/understands it not, then cometh/comes the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. )

KJB-1611 When any one heareth the word of the kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, then commeth the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: this is hee which receiued seede by the way side.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps When one heareth the worde of the kyngdome, and vnderstandeth it not, then commeth that euyll, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: this is he, which receaued seede by the way syde.
(When one heareth/hears the word of the kingdom, and understandeth/understands it not, then cometh/comes that evil, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he, which received seed by the way side.)

Gnva Whensoeuer any man heareth the woorde of that kingdome, and vnderstandeth it not, that euil one commeth, and catcheth away that which was sowen in his heart: and this is he which hath receiued the seede by the way side.
(Whenever any man heareth/hears the word of that kingdom, and understandeth/understands it not, that evil one cometh/comes, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: and this is he which hath/has received the seed by the way side. )

Cvdl Whan one heareth ye worde of the kyngdome, and vnderstondeth it not, the euell man cometh, and plucketh it awaye that is sowne in his hert: & this is he yt is sowne by the waye syde.
(When one heareth/hears ye/you_all word of the kingdom, and understandeth/understands it not, the evil man cometh/comes, and plucketh it away that is sown in his heart: and this is he it is sown by the way side.)

TNT Whosoever heareth the worde of the kingdome and vnderstondeth it not ther cometh the evyll man and catcheth awaye that which was sowne in his hert. And this is he which was sowne by the wayesyde.
(Whosoever heareth/hears the word of the kingdom and understandeth/understands it not there cometh/comes the evil man and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. And this is he which was sown by the waysyde. )

Wycl Ech that herith the word of the rewme, and vndirstondith not, the yuel spirit cometh, and rauyschith that that is sowun in his herte; this it is, that is sowun bisidis the weie.
(Each that heareth/hears the word of the realm, and understandeth/understands not, the evil spirit cometh/comes, and rauyschith that that is sown in his heart; this it is, that is sown besides the way.)

Luth Wenn jemand das Wort von dem Reich höret und nicht verstehet, so kommt der Arge und reißet es hin, was da gesäet ist in sein Herz; und der ist‘s, der am Wege gesäet ist.
(When someone the word from to_him kingdom hear and not understands, so comes the/of_the evil(n) and tearet it there/therefore, what/which there sown is in be heart; and the/of_the it_is, the/of_the in/at/on_the ways sown is.)

ClVg Omnis qui audit verbum regni, et non intelligit, venit malus, et rapit quod seminatum est in corde ejus: hic est qui secus viam seminatus est.
(Everyone who/which listens the_word/saying of_the_kingdom, and not/no understands, he_came bad, and rapit that sown it_is in/into/on heart his: this/here it_is who/which otherwise/wrongly way/road sowsus it_is. )

UGNT παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ. οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς.
(pantos akouontos ton logon taʸs basileias kai maʸ sunientos, erⱪetai ho ponaʸros kai harpazei to esparmenon en taʸ kardia autou. houtos estin ho para taʸn hodon spareis.)

SBL-GNT παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς.
(pantos akouontos ton logon taʸs basileias kai maʸ sunientos, erⱪetai ho ponaʸros kai harpazei to esparmenon en taʸ kardia autou; houtos estin ho para taʸn hodon spareis.)

RP-GNT Παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός, καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς.
(Pantos akouontos ton logon taʸs basileias kai maʸ sunientos, erⱪetai ho ponaʸros, kai harpazei to esparmenon en taʸ kardia autou; houtos estin ho para taʸn hodon spareis.)

TC-GNT Παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρός, καὶ [fn]ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς.
(Pantos akouontos ton logon taʸs basileias kai maʸ sunientos, erⱪetai ho ponaʸros, kai harpazei to esparmenon en taʸ kardia autou; houtos estin ho para taʸn hodon spareis. )

13:19 αρπαζει ¦ αιρει ANT

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:18–23: Jesus explained the parable of the man who sowed seeds

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.

13:19

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.

13:19a

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.

13:19b

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.

13:19c

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

13:19d

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.

13:19e

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.

13:19a–e

(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.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

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

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

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

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

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

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]

Parallel MAT 13:19

Section 13:18–23: Jesus explained the parable of the man who sowed seeds

13:19

13:19a

13:19b

13:19c

13:19d

13:19e

13:19a–e