A parable at a gathering of people from every city.
Luke 8:6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
Luke 8:6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
And another fell down on the rock and, being grown, it was withered thanks to the moisture lack.
Whether the rock hits the seed or the seed hits the rock, it is going to be bad for the seed.
Again, the English translation obscures many of the differences between this verse and similar verses in the other gospels. To start, this verse is in the singular, not plural. The word translated as "fell" means "fell down" and it only used here. The word translated as "moisture" is only used here. It means "moisture," "juices," and "moist secretions."
The word translated as "sprung up" and "came up" is only used twice, both in Luke. In the active form, it means "bring forth" and "produce." Here it is passive. In the passive, it means "grow, and "spring up or forth, as a participle, "being grown."
The "not having" means "lack." It is an infinitive preceded by a direct article so it acts like a noun, "the lack."
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "some" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "some."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "fell."
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "as soon as " doesn't exist in the source.
- WT --Wrong Tense - The English verb "was" is the past tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "having been."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This "sprung up" is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "withered" here is translated as active but it is passive.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "because."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This infinitive has an article so it acts like a noun, "the lack."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "some" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "some."
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "fell."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "rocky" is not an adjective but a noun. "
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "ground" doesn't exist in the source.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The "when " doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "came."
- WF -- Wrong Form - This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "came" is translated as active but it is passive, "being grown."
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The "the plants" doesn't exist in the source.
- WV --Wrong Voice - The "withered" here is translated as active but it is passive.
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "they" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
- CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "because."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - This infinitive has an article so it acts like a noun, "the having."
And - The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
some -- (CW, WN)) The word translated as "some" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun. This word is not plural but singular.
fell - (CW) "Fell" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall down."This verb is only used by Jesus in this one verse. It is not the simple word "fell." Unlike the verbs in the other two versions of this verse, it is an unusual compound word.
upon -- The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
a -- (WW) The word translated as "a" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes 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.
rock; -- "Rock" is a noun that means "rock," "boulder," and "stone" as a building material. It has the specific meaning of "rocky cliffs" or "ledges" over the sea and a "rocky peak" or "ridge."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
as soon as -- -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
was -- (WT) This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. This is the past percent tense so "having been."
sprung up, - (WF) The long phrase "sprung up" is a Greek verb meaning "put forth." In the passive, it means "grow, and "spring up or forth, as a participle, "being grown."This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
withered away, -- (WV) "Withered away" is a verb that means "to become dry," "to become parched," and "to wither away." This verb is singular and passive so, "it was withered. "
because -- (CW) The preposition translated as "because" means with the accusative used here, means "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of." This is not one of the words usually translated as "because."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes a noun. Here, it makes the infinitive verb 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.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
lacked -- (WF) "Lacked" comes from two Greek words meaning "not have." The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests. With "have," the sense is "lacks" or "wants."the The word "have" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb is an infinitive preceded by an article so it acts like a noun, "the lack."
moisture. - The Greek noun for "moisture" means "moisture," "juices," and "moist secretions." This is the only time it used in the NT. ."
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
Some -- (CW, WN)) The word translated as "some" means "one of two," "other," "another," or "different." It is an adjective used as a noun. This word is not plural but singular.
fell - (CW) "Fell" is translated from a Greek word that means "to fall down."This verb is only used by Jesus in this one verse. It is not the simple word "fell." Unlike the verbs in the other two versions of this verse, it is an unusual compound word.
upon -- The word translated as "unto" means "on," "over," "upon," "for," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes 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.
rocky; -- (WF) "Rocky" is a noun that means "rock," "boulder," and "stone" as a building material. It has the specific meaning of "rocky cliffs" or "ledges" over the sea and a "rocky peak" or "ridge."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ground -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
when -- -- (IW) This word is not in the Greek source.
it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
came up - (CW, WF, WV) The long phrase "sprung up" is a Greek verb meaning "put forth." In the passive, it means "grow, and "spring up or forth, as a participle, "being grown." This is not the word usually translated as "came." This is not an active verb but a participle, a verbal adjective, ending with "-ing. "
the plants -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as this phrase in the Greek source.
withered , -- (WV) "Withered away" is a verb that means "to become dry," "to become parched," and "to wither away." This verb is singular and passive so, "it was withered. "
because -- (CW) The preposition translated as "because" means with the accusative used here, means "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of." This is not one of the words usually translated as "because."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word "the" is the Greek definite article, "the," which usually precedes 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. This article makes the followig infinitive act like a noun.
they -- -- (WN) This word is not plural but singular. This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
had - (WF)- The word "had" means to "have," "possess," "bear," "keep close," "hold in," "to have due to one," or "keep" and many specific uses. This verb is an infinitive preceded by an article so it acts like a noun, "the lack."
no - The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, verbs of possibility, and requests.
moisture. - The Greek noun for "moisture" means "moisture," "juices," and "moist secretions." This is the only time it used in the NT. ."
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." -
ἕτερον [21 verses](adj sg masc acc) "Some"is heteros, which means "one or the other of two," "the second," "the secondary," "the minor," "other things [of like kind]," "another," "different," "other than," "different from," "other than should be," and "in another or a different way." As an adverb, it means "in one or the other way," "differently," "otherwise than should be," "badly," and "wrongly."
κατέπεσεν [1 verse](verb 3rd sg aor ind act) "Fell" is from the verb katapipto, which means "to fall down" and "to drop." It is the common verb pipto ("to fall") with the prefix, kata ("down"), so "to fall down."
ἐπὶ [138 verses](prep) "On" is from epi which means "on," "upon," "at," "by," "before," "across," and "against." With a noun in the possessive, genitive, it means "upon," "on" but not necessarily of Place, "by (of persons)," "deep (with numbers)," "in the presence of," "towards," "in the time of," and "over (referring to a person of authority)." With a noun indirect object, dative, it means of place: "upon," "on," or "over," of people: "against (in a hostile sense)," regarding a situation: "towards" or "in reference to," of an accumulation: "upon," "after," "addition to," and "besides," of position: "after," "behind," "in dependence upon," and "in the power of," of time: "by," and "after," and. in a causal sense: "of the occasion or cause," "for" a person, an end, or purpose," "on condition that," and "for" (a price). With the objective noun, an accusative, it means of place: "upon or on to a height," "up to," "as far as," "a little way," "a little," "towards," "to," in hostile sense: "against," of extension: "over," "over (a space)," of time: "for," "during," "up to" or "till," in a causal sense: "of (the object)," for (this purpose)," "as regards," "according to," and "by (this cause)." With verbs of perceiving, observing, and judging, it means "in the case of."
τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc) "A" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. 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. See this article. -
πέτραν,[8 verses] (noun sg fem acc ) "Rock" is from petra, which means "rock," "boulder," and "stone" as a building material. It has the specific meaning of "rocky cliffs" or "ledges" over the sea and a "rocky peak" or "ridge."
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."
φυὲν [2 verses] (part sg aor pass neut nom) "As soon as it was sprung up" is phyo, which means "bring forth," "produce," and "put forth." In the passive, it means "grow, and "spring up or forth, as a participle, "being grown."
ἐξηράνθη. [4 verses]( 3rd sg aor ind pass) "It withered away" is from xêrainô, which means "to become dry," "to become parched," and "to wither away."
διὰ [88 verses](prep) "Through" is dia, which means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "for (causal)," "among," and "between." With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of," "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."
τὸ [821 verses] (article sg neut acc) "It" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). When not preceding 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. Without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." Before any word other than a noun, it changes it to act like a noun. However, the Greek article is very close to "this" so the purpose of an article like this can also be demonstrative. See this article.
μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." The negative, μή, rejects, is relative, and subjective. It is used in imperative and subjunctive clauses because both express opinions. This negative applies to will, volition, and thought. With pres. or aor. subjunctive, it is used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. It is used with infinitives that express a purpose. It is used with verbs of subjective action--thinking, feeling, seeing, etc. When used with verbs of physical action, its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought. With these verbs, the sense is "rejecting" the action, rather than simply not doing it. With the verb "to be," the sense is "doesn't seem." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. Used with an imperative to express a will or wish. Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses.
ἔχειν [181 verses](verb pres inf act) "Have" is echo, which means "to have," "to hold," "to possess," "to keep," "to have charge of," "to have due to one," "to maintain," "to hold fast," "to hold in," "to bear," "to carry," "to keep close," "to keep safe," and "to have means to do." In aorist, it can mean "acquire," or "get." The main sense when it has an object is "to have" or "to hold." With a gen. object, "to keep back" or "withhold" a thing. The main sense when not having an object is "to hold" and "to keep."
ἰκμάδα. [1 verse](noun sg fem acc) "Moisture" is ikmas, which means "moisture," "juices," and "moist secretions.
This verse is much simpler than the long version in Matthew (Matthew 13:6, Matthew 13:5) and even the shorter version in Mark (Mark 4:5). It is also in the singular, not plural.