Mark 4:16
New International Version
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

New Living Translation
The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

English Standard Version
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy.

Berean Standard Bible
Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

Berean Literal Bible
And these are likewise those sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,

King James Bible
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

New King James Version
These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

New American Standard Bible
And in a similar way these are the ones sown with seed on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;

NASB 1995
“In a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;

NASB 1977
“And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy;

Legacy Standard Bible
And in a similar way, these are the ones being sown on the rocky places: those who, when hearing the word, immediately receive it with joy;

Amplified Bible
In a similar way these [in the second group] are the ones on whom seed was sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy [but accept it only superficially];

Christian Standard Bible
And others are like seed sown on rocky ground. When they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, immediately they receive it with joy.

American Standard Version
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;

Contemporary English Version
The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it at once.

English Revised Version
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.

Good News Translation
Other people are like the seeds that fall on rocky ground. As soon as they hear the message, they receive it gladly.

International Standard Version
Others are like the seeds sown on the stony ground. When they hear the word, at once they joyfully accept it,

Majority Standard Bible
Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

NET Bible
These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.

New Heart English Bible
And these in a similar way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.

Webster's Bible Translation
And these are they likewise who are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

Weymouth New Testament
In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully,

World English Bible
These in the same way are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And these are they, in like manner, who are sown on the rocky ground: who, whenever they may hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,

Berean Literal Bible
And these are likewise those sown upon the rocky places, who when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,

Young's Literal Translation
'And these are they, in like manner, who on the rocky ground are sown: who, whenever they may hear the word, immediately with joy do receive it,

Smith's Literal Translation
And these are likewise they sown upon stony places; who, when they hear, quickly with joy receive it;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And these likewise are they that are sown on the stony ground: who when they have heard the word, immediately recieve it with joy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And similarly, there are those who were sown upon stony ground. These, when they have heard the word, immediately accept it with gladness.

New American Bible
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy.

New Revised Standard Version
And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And those which were sown upon the rock, are those who when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And those that were sown upon the rock are those who when they have heard the word immediately receive it with joy.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And these are they that, in like manner, received seed in stony places: who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy:

Godbey New Testament
And those who are sowed upon the rocks are likewise, those who, when they may hear the word, immediately with joy receive it.

Haweis New Testament
and these in like manner are they who were sown on the rocky soil; who when they have heard the word, instantly with joy receive it;

Mace New Testament
in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy.

Weymouth New Testament
In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully,

Worrell New Testament
And these likewise are those sown upon the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, straightway with joy receive it;

Worsley New Testament
And in like manner, they that are sown as on stony grounds are such, as when they hear the word,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Parable of the Sower Explained
15Some are like the seeds along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground. They hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.…

Cross References
Matthew 13:20-21
The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. / But since he has no root, he remains for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Luke 8:13
The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.

James 1:23-24
For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Hebrews 3:12-14
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. / But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. / We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

John 6:66
From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

1 John 2:19
They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.

2 Peter 2:20-22
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.”

Acts 8:13-24
Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. He followed Philip closely and was astounded by the great signs and miracles he observed. / When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. / On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. ...

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

Ezekiel 33:31-32
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. / Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Hosea 6:4
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.

Psalm 78:36-37
But they deceived Him with their mouths, and lied to Him with their tongues. / Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant.


Treasury of Scripture

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

which.

Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Mark 10:17-22
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? …

Ezekiel 33:31,32
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness…

Jump to Previous
Accept Ears Gladness Ground Hear Heard Immediately Joy Joyfully Likewise Manner Message Once Ones Others Places Planted Receive Rocky Seed Similar Sown Stones Stony Straight Way Whenever Word
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Accept Ears Gladness Ground Hear Heard Immediately Joy Joyfully Likewise Manner Message Once Ones Others Places Planted Receive Rocky Seed Similar Sown Stones Stony Straight Way Whenever Word
Mark 4
1. The parable of the sower,
14. and the meaning thereof.
21. We must communicate the light of our knowledge to others.
26. The parable of the seed growing secretly;
30. and of the mustard seed.
35. Jesus stills the storm on the sea.














Some are like the seeds sown on rocky ground
The phrase "seeds sown on rocky ground" is a metaphor used by Jesus to describe a particular type of hearer of the Word. In the agrarian society of first-century Palestine, rocky ground was common, and while it could initially support the germination of seeds, it lacked the depth of soil necessary for sustained growth. The Greek word for "rocky" (πετρώδης, petrodēs) suggests a superficial layer of soil over a bedrock, indicating a lack of depth. Spiritually, this represents individuals who have a shallow reception of the Gospel. They may initially appear enthusiastic, but their faith lacks the depth needed to endure trials or persecution. This imagery serves as a caution against a superficial faith that does not take root deeply in one's life.

They hear the word
The act of hearing is crucial in the biblical context, as faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). The Greek word for "hear" (ἀκούω, akouō) implies not just the physical act of listening but also an understanding and internalization of the message. In the context of Mark 4:16, these individuals do indeed hear the Word of God, which is the seed in this parable. However, the hearing is only the beginning of the process. The challenge lies in moving beyond mere auditory reception to a transformative understanding that leads to spiritual growth and maturity.

and at once receive it with joy
The phrase "at once receive it with joy" highlights the initial positive response to the Gospel. The Greek word for "receive" (λαμβάνω, lambanō) indicates an active acceptance or taking hold of something. This immediate reception is marked by "joy," a common response to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Joy (χαρά, chara) in the New Testament often signifies a deep, spiritual gladness that comes from the Holy Spirit. However, in this context, the joy is superficial and temporary because it is not rooted in a deep understanding or commitment. The initial enthusiasm is not sustained because it lacks the foundation of a deep, abiding faith. This serves as a reminder that true discipleship requires more than an emotional response; it demands a commitment that perseveres through challenges and trials.

Verses 16, 17. - And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground. This sentence would be better rendered, And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, where the words "likewise," or "in like manner," mean "by a similar mode of interpretation." This is the second condition of soil on which the seed is sown - a better condition than the former; for the former plainly refused the seed, but this, having some soil layout. able to the germination of the seed, receives it, and the seed springs up, though but for a little while. So the rocky ground is like the heart of that hearer who hears the Word of God, and receives it with joy. He is delighted with its beauty, its justice, its purity; and he breaks forth with holy affections. But alas he has more of the rock than of the good soil in his heart. Hence the Word of God cannot strike a deep root into his soul. He is not constant in the faith. He endures but for a time, and in the hour of temptation he falls away.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Others]
οὗτοί (houtoi)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

are
εἰσιν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

like
ὁμοίως (homoiōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3668: In like manner, similarly, in the same way, equally. Adverb from homoios; similarly.

the [seeds]
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sown
σπειρόμενοι (speiromenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4687: To sow, spread, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao; to scatter, i.e. Sow.

on
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

rocky places.
πετρώδη (petrōdē)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4075: Rocky, stony. From petra and eidos; rock-like, i.e. Rocky.

[They]
οἳ (hoi)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

hear
ἀκούσωσιν (akousōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

word
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

[and] at once
εὐθὺς (euthys)
Adverb
Strong's 2112: Immediately, soon, at once. Adverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon.

receive
λαμβάνουσιν (lambanousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

it
αὐτόν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

with
μετὰ (meta)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

joy.
χαρᾶς (charas)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5479: Joy, gladness, a source of joy. From chairo; cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight.


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NT Gospels: Mark 4:16 These in like manner are those who (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 4:15
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