Section 8:4–8

Jesus told a parable about seeds falling on different types of soil

In this section Jesus told a parable about different types of soil and what happens when seed falls on them. The parable illustrated how different people receive the word of God. In the parable, a man scattered seeds that fell on different types of soil (8:5–8). After Jesus told this parable, he explained why he used parables (8:9–10). He explained the meaning of the parable in 8:11–15. The same parable and discussion are in Matthew 13:3–23 and Mark 4:3–20.

The events in this section probably happened during the period of time that was described in 8:1–3. At that time Jesus was traveling from town to town to preach to people about the kingdom of God.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings for this section are:

A Story About a Farmer (God’s Word)
-or-
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Jesus illustrated different ways that people hear the word of God

Paragraph 8:4–8

8:4a

While: This verse begins with a Greek conjunction that connects this paragraph to the preceding section. While Jesus was going from town to town (8:1), many people came to him and followed him from those towns. He told the parable in this section while those people were with him.

Connect this verse to the preceding section in a natural way in your language. Some ways to do this in English are:

When a large crowd had gathered (God’s Word)
-or-
People kept coming to Jesus…and when a great crowd gathered (Good News Translation)

a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town: This clause indicates that people were coming to Jesus from various towns. These people became a large crowd that continued to get larger as more people came. Other ways to translate this are:

a large crowd was gathering as people came to Jesus from town after town
-or-
as many people from different towns gathered around Jesus

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses. For example:

People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered… (Good News Translation)

crowd: The word crowd refers to a large number of people who are together in one place. Other ways to translate crowd are:

many people
-or-
a big group of people

was gathering…were coming: The forms of these verbs in Greek indicates that the actions continued over a period of time. More people continued to come until they formed a large crowd. If you have a way to indicate this type of continual or gradual action in your language, you may be able to use it here.

town after town: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as town after town means “many different towns.”

8:4b

this parable: The phrase this parable refers to the parable that follows in 8:5–8.

parable: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as parable is literally “comparison.” A parable teaches a lesson or truth by showing how it is like something that people already know. Jesus used several types of parables including symbolic stories, metaphors, proverbs, illustrations, and wise sayings.

Some ways to translate parable are:

• Use a general term in your language that can be used to describe the different types of parables. Some English examples are:

illustration
-or-
metaphor

• Use a descriptive term. For example:

symbolic saying/words/story
-or-
comparison

This word also occurs in 5:36a. See also parable, Type 2, in the Glossary.

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