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15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan[a] comes and snatches the word[b] that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But[c] they have no root in themselves and do not endure.[d] Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 4:15 sn Interestingly, the synoptic parallels each use a different word for Satan here: Matt 13:19 has “the evil one,” while Luke 8:12 has “the devil.” This illustrates the fluidity of the gospel tradition in often using synonyms at the same point of the parallel tradition.
  2. Mark 4:15 sn The word of Jesus has the potential to save if it germinates in a person’s heart, something the devil is very much against.
  3. Mark 4:17 tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
  4. Mark 4:17 tn Grk “are temporary.”