4:4a

And as he was sowing: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sowing is from the same verb that is translated as “sow” in 4:3b. You may want to use the same expression as in 4:3b:

As he was planting by throwing
-or-
As he was scattering to plant

But if you used additional words to explain the method of planting or included a footnote in 4:3b, you may want to use a general expression here. It should refer back to the expression you used for “sow” in 4:3b:

As he was planting
-or-
As he was doing this

4:4b

some seed fell along the path: Because of the method of planting, some seeds accidentally fell on places where plants did not grow well. One such place is along the path. Be careful not to imply in your translation that the farmer intended for some of the seeds to fall along the path.

Here are some other ways to translate fell along the path:

landed accidentally along the path
-or-
were scattered unintentionally along the path

along: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as along usually means “near,” “beside,” or “alongside.” In this context, it may also mean “on.” The English versions show a similar range of meaning. For example:

some seed fell beside the road (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
some of the seed fell on the edge of the path (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
some seed fell on a footpath (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

Several English versions, including the Berean Standard Bible and the New International Version, have “along,” which can mean either “beside” or “upon.” If you have a similar word in your language, you may use that word here. Otherwise use a word with a more specific meaning that is natural in your language. All these meanings fit the parable equally well. (It should be noted that the Greek word para normally means “beside” (Louw & Nida, page 716 #83.25). The author could have used epi if he had wanted to specify “upon.” However, in this parable, it is unlikely that the author intended us to make a distinction. Seed would have fallen both on and beside the path. In either location the soil would be hard and the seed would not be ploughed in.)

the path: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as path refers to a footpath through or alongside a field. People who walk there trample on the soil and make it hard.

4:4c

the birds came: It may be more natural in your language to use a different verb rather than the verb came. For example:

the birds flew there
-or-
the birds landed there

the birds: The phrase the birds refers to birds in general and does not refer to any birds mentioned before. Introduce the birds in the story in the most natural way in your language. For example:

some birds flew down
-or-
there were some birds that landed there

devoured it: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as devoured refers to eating something hungrily and completely.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

ate it up (New International Version)
-or-
ate them until they were gone

If you have a specific word or phrase that describes the way that birds eat, such as the English word “pecked,” you may want to use that word:

pecked…hungrily

it: The pronoun it refers to the seed. If you used a plural form like “seeds” in 4:3b, you may need to use a plural form here also. The God’s Word has:

them

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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