Mark 4:5
 Mark 4:5 
New International Version (©2011)
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it didn't have much soil, and it sprang up right away, since it didn't have deep soil.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Others fell on stony ground, where they didn't have a lot of soil. They sprouted at once, because the soil wasn't deep.

NET Bible (©2006)
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“But other seed fell on rock where there was not much soil, and immediately it sprouted because there was no depth of soil.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

American King James Version
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

American Standard Version
And other fell on the rocky ground , where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And other some fell upon stony ground, where it had not much earth; and it shot up immediately, because it had no depth of earth.

Darby Bible Translation
And another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out of the ground because it had no depth of earth;

English Revised Version
And other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:

Webster's Bible Translation
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.

Weymouth New Testament
Some falls on the rocky ground where it finds but little earth, and it shoots up quickly because it has no depth of soil;

World English Bible
Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.

Young's Literal Translation
and other fell upon the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang forth, because of not having depth of earth,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-20 This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. In the great field of the church, the word of God is dispensed to all. Of the many that hear the word of the gospel, but few receive it, so as to bring forth fruit. Many are much affected with the word for the present, who yet receive no abiding benefit. The word does not leave abiding impressions upon the minds of men, because their hearts are not duly disposed to receive it. The devil is very busy about careless hearers, as the fowls of the air go about the seed that lies above ground. Many continue in a barren, false profession, and go down to hell. Impressions that are not deep, will not last. Many do not mind heart-work, without which religion is nothing. Others are hindered from profiting by the word of God, by abundance of the world. And those who have but little of the world, may yet be ruined by indulging the body. God expects and requires fruit from those who enjoy the gospel, a temper of mind and Christian graces daily exercised, Christian duties duly performed. Let us look to the Lord, that by his new-creating grace our hearts may become good ground, and that the good seed of the word may produce in our lives those good words and works which are through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God the Father.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And some fell on stony ground,.... The word was preached to some persons who had hearts of stone, and which remained so:

where it had not much earth; and so could be received only in a notional and superficial way, but could take no place, so as to produce any good effect:

and immediately it sprung up; a sudden and hasty profession of the word was made, without a powerful experience of it:

because it had no depth of earth; if it had, it would have been longer in coming up; more work would have been done by it, which would have required more time, before a profession of it had been made.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth—"the rocky ground"; in Matthew (Mt 13:5), "the rocky places"; in Luke (Lu 8:6), "the rock." The thing intended is, not ground with stones in it which would not prevent the roots striking downward, but ground where a quite thin surface of earth covers a rock. What means this? See on [1420]Mr 4:16.

Third Case: The Thorny Ground. (Mr 4:7, 18, 19).


Mark 4:5 Parallel Commentaries

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The Parable of the Sower
4And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. …

Matthew 13:5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
Mark 4:4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
Mark 4:6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.