Explaining the Parable of the Sower to followers.
Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
So the one in the beautiful earth, these are anyone with a heart, beautiful and valuable, hearing this idea, hold fast and produces fruit by endurance.
The key to endurance is having the right kind of heart.
This verse is entertaining because it demonstrates the confusion in translating two different Greek words as "good". Earlier in Luke 8:8, Jesus called the earth, "valuable," but here he uses a different word meaning "beautiful." Later on in this verse, Jesus describes a heart as "beautiful" and "valuable," using these two same words, but the translation of the first is changed in this verse. These differences are lost in translation, especially since one of those words is translated as something else later in the verse. See this article on the Greek words translated as "good."
Jesus also plays with different meanings of the Greek preposition translated incorrectly as "on," "in/with," and "with/by." The "on" is incorrect, but the word does have all these other meanings.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is the same Greek word translated better as "good" earlier in the verse.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated better as "good" in the verse.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "patience" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "seed" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "on" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "soil" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "stands" should be something more like "are."
- IW - Inserted Word-- The "for" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This "noble" is the same Greek word translated better as "good" in the verse.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the same Greek word translated better as "good" in the verse.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "who" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "hear" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "word" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "persevering" is not a gerund, a verbal noun, ending with "-ing" but a noun.
But - The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." However, it can also mean "so" for explanations, which is what this is.
that - "That" is from the Greek article, "the," (masculine) which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."
on - "(CW) The word translated as "on" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. which is the form of the object here. It can mean "on" with a different form of object.
the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more.
good -- The word translated as "good means "good," "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless," "noble" and "base." See this article on the Greek words translated as "good." -
ground -- The word translated as "earth" means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
are The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.
they, -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.
which . -- "Which" is a pronoun that means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever."
in - The word translated as "in" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. which is the form of the object here.
an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
honest -- (CW) The word translated as "honest" means "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."It is the same word translated as "good" with "ground". See this article on the Greek words translated as "good."
and The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
good - (CW) The different adjective translated as "good" means "useful", "worthwhile," and "of high quality." It is a the same word than the "good" earlier in verse. See this article on the Greek words translated as "good."
heart,"Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".
having -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.
heard - "Having heard" is a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. However, it is in the form of an adjective, "hearing."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
word, -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic," "concept, or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach," "teacher," and "student" that all have the same root.
keep - "Keep" is from a verb that means to "hold fast", "hold back", "withhold", "inhibit", "gain possession of", "be master of", and"possess, occupy". It is not the common word translated as "keep" , which is usually translated as "to have". This is a more complex form of that word meaning "keep under" but it has a number of specific uses.
it, -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
bring forth fruit -- "Bring forth fruit" is from a Greek verb that means specifically "to bear fruit." It is formed from two roots, one the word for "fruit" and the other the verb that means "to bear", "to carry", "to bring", "to produce," and "to fetch." It is also a metaphor in Greek, as in English, for virtue.
with -- The word translated as "with" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object.
patience - (CW) "Patience" is another uncommon word, a noun meaning, "remaining beautiful", " endurance", in bad sense, "obstinacy", of plants, "power to endure", and "enduring to do".
But - The Greek word translated as "but" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also") and, In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." However, it can also mean "so" for explanations, which is what this is.
the - "The" is from the Greek article, "the," (masculine) which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."
seed -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
on - "(CW) The word translated as "on" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. which is the form of the object here. It can mean "on" with a different form of object.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
good -- The word translated as "good means "good," "beautiful," "noble," or "of good quality." It is most often translated as "good" juxtaposed with "evil" in the New Testament, but the two ideas are closer to "wonderful" and "worthless," "noble" and "base." See this article on the Greek words translated as "good." -
soil -- The word translated as "soil " means "ground," "land," "country," and "dirt." Translated as "earth," it refers to the physical planet, not society, which Jesus describes as the world. See this article for more on these words.
are The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition.
stands -- (WW) The verb "are" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. The word also means "to exist" and where it doesn't connect to characteristics or conditions.
for -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
those. -- "Which" is a pronoun that means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever."
with - The word translated as "with" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object. which is the form of the object here.
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
noble -- (CW) The word translated as "noble " means "beautiful", "noble," or "of good quality."It is the same word translated as "good" with "ground". See this article on the Greek words translated as "good."
and The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
good - (CW) The different adjective translated as "good" means "useful", "worthwhile," and "of high quality." It is a the same word than the "good" earlier in verse. See this article on the Greek words translated as "good."
heart,"Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".
who -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.
hear - "Hear" is a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. However, it is in the form of an adjective, "hearing."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
word, -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning," but it has many, many specific meanings from "deliberation" to "narrative." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. However, when applied to people, it means "repute" or "reputation." More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "logic," "concept, or "reasoning" to describe it but it also means the communication of various types, so "message" often works. "Teaching" might work but it is unrelated to the common words for "to teach," "teacher," and "student" that all have the same root.
retain - "Retain" is from a verb that means to "hold fast", "hold back", "withhold", "remember," "master," "inhibit", "gain possession of", "be master of", "seize," and "possess, occupy".
it, -- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
and - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
by -- The word translated as "by" means "in," "within," "with" (an instrument), "by" (near), "by" (means of), "during" (time), or "among" with an indirect-object form object.
persevering - (WF) "Persevering " is another uncommon word, a noun meaning, "remaining beautiful", " endurance", in bad sense, "obstinacy", of plants," and the "power to endure". This is not a gerund, a verbal noun, ending with "-ing" but a noun.
produce a crop - "Produce a crop" is from a Greek verb that means specifically "to bear fruit." It is formed from two roots, one the word for "fruit" and the other the verb that means "to bear", "to carry", "to bring", "to produce," and "to fetch." It is also a metaphor in Greek, as in English, for virtue.
τὸ [821 verses] (article sg neut acc) "That" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then." In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then." It can also be an explanation of cause ("so"). When used with a conditional starting a clause, the sense is "if/when...then." When used with a particle meaning "indeed" the sense is "on one hand...on the other hand." In a listing, the sense is "then" or "yet." After an interruption, "so then."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during." --
τῇ [821 verses](article sg fem dat) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
καλῇ [48 verses](adj sg fem dat) "Good" is kalos, which means "beautiful," "good," "of fine quality," "noble," and "honorable." Referring to parts of the body, "fair" and "shapely."As an adverb, kalos, the word translated as "well" means, "well," "rightly," "happily," "thoroughly," "altogether," and "deservedly."
γῇ, [59 verses] (noun sg fem dat) "Ground" is ge, which means "the element of earth," "land (country)," "arable land," "the ground," and "the world" as the opposite of the sky. Like our English word "earth," it means both dirt and the planet.
οὗτοί [83 verses](adj pl masc nom) "They" is houtos, which as an adjective means "this," "that," "the nearer."
εἰσιν [614 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres) "Are" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen," and "is possible." With the possessive (genitive) object, it means "is descended from," "is the type of," "belongs to," "is made of," "is a duty of," "is at the mercy of," or " is dependent on." With an indirect (dative) object, it means "have" where the subject and object are reversed. "It is to him" becomes "it is his" or "he has it." With the preposition,"into" (εἰς), the sense is "consist of." When the verb "to be" appears early in the clause before the subject, the sense is more like "it is" or, in the plural, "there are."
οἵτινες [90 verses] (pron pl masc nom ) "Which" is hostis, which means "that," "anyone who," "anything which," "whosoever," "whichsoever" and "anybody whatsoever."
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
καρδίᾳ [37 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Of heart" is kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)," "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)," "inclination," "desire," "purpose," "mind," "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)." -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in this article here. Jesus and the Septuagint use a singular "heart" when referring to a group of people. This is a singular noun but the "of yours" is plural.
καλῇ [48 verses](adj sg fem dat) "Good" is kalos, which means "beautiful," "good," "of fine quality," "noble," and "honorable." Referring to parts of the body, "fair" and "shapely."As an adverb, kalos, the word translated as "well" means, "well," "rightly," "happily," "thoroughly," "altogether," and "deservedly."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as." -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ἀγαθῇ [23 verses] (adj sg fem dat) "Good" is agathos which means "good" and, when applied to people, "well-born," "gentle," "brave," and "capable." When applied to things, it means "serviceable," "morally good," and "beneficial."
ἀκούσαντες, [95 verses](part pl aor act masc nom) "Have heard" is akouo, which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from. However, two genitives can be used with the sense of "hear of a thing from a person."
τὸν [821 verses](article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). It usually precedes a noun or changes the word it precedes (adjective, infinitive, participle, etc.) to act like a noun. When not preceding a a word that can become a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Proper nouns do normally not take articles but they are needed when the noun ending cannot be changed to show the noun's role in the sentence as an object, indirect object, or genitive (possessive) form. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative.There is no vocative definite article, (despite being shown in Perseus). When the vocative is meant, no article is used or they used ω or ε. See this article.
λόγον [80 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Word" is logos, which means "word," "computation," "relation," "explanation," "law," "rule of conduct," "continuous statement," "tradition," "discussion," "reckoning," "reputation" (when applied to people), and "value."
κατέχουσιν [2 verses](verb 3rd pl pres ind act ) "Keep" is from katecho, which means to "hold fast", "hold back", "withhold", "inhibit", "gain possession of", "be master of", "possess, occupy", "follow close upon", "press hard", "control oneself", "keep back for oneself", and "embezzle".
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just." In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
καρποφοροῦσιν [4 verses] (verb 3rd pl pres ind act) "Bring forth fruit" is from karpophoreô, which means specifically "to bear fruit." It is also a metaphor in Greek, as in English, for virtue.
ἐν [413 verses](prep) "In" is en, which means, with its usual indirect (dative) object, "in," "on," "at," "by," "among," "within," "surrounded by," "in one's hands," "in one's power," "during," and "with." With a direct (accusative) object, it means "into," "on," and "for." Referring to time, it means. "in the course of" or "during."
ὑπομονῇ. [2 verses](noun sg fem dat ) "Patience" is hypomone, which means "remaining beautiful", " endurance", in bad sense, "obstinacy", of plants, "power to endure", and "enduring to do".