Mark 4 · Verse 5

Mark 4:5

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
Mark 4:5, King James Version

Mark 4:5 in other translations

BSBSome fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
WEBOthers fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
ASVAnd other fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:
YLTand other fell upon the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang forth, because of not having depth of earth,
DARBYAnd another fell on the rocky ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprung up out of the ground because it had no depth of earth;
BBEAnd some went on the stones, where it had not much earth; and it came up straight away, because the earth was not deep:
WebsterAnd some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth.

What does Mark 4:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth--"the rocky ground"; in Matthew (Mt 13:5), "the rocky places"; in Luke (Lu 8:6), "the rock." The thing intended is, not ground with stones in it which would not prevent the roots striking downward, but ground where a quite thin surface of earth covers a rock. What means this? See on Mr 4:16. Third Case: The Thorny Ground. (Mr 4:7, 18, 19).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5.

(a) "stony" Eze 11:19, 36:26

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 4:1-20

This parable contained instruction so important, that all capable of hearing were bound to attend to it. There are many things we are concerned to know; and if we understand not the plain truths of the gospel, how shall we learn those more difficult! It will help us to value the privileges we enjoy as disciples of Christ, if we seriously consider the deplorable state of all who have not such privileges. In the great…

Read the full comment on Mark 4:1-20 →

Mark 4:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἄλλοallootherG243
ἔπεσενepesenfellG4098
ἐπὶepiuponG1909
τὸtotheG3588
πετρῶδεςpetrōdesrocky placeG4075
ὅπουhopouwhereG3699
οὐκouknotG3756
εἶχενeichenit hadG2192
γῆνgēnsoilG1093
πολλήν,pollēnmuch,G4183
καὶkaiandG2532
εὐθὺςeuthusimmediatelyG2112
ἐξανέτειλενexaneteilenit sprang upG1816
διὰdiabecause ofG1223
τὸtotheG3588
μὴmēnotG3361
ἔχεινecheinhavingG2192
βάθοςbathosdepthG899
γῆς.gēsof soil.G1093

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 4:5

  • Ezekiel 36:26

    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

  • 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 8:13

    They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

  • Hosea 10:12

    Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

  • Matthew 13:5-6

    Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

  • Ezekiel 11:19

    And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

  • Amos 6:12

    Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:

  • Mark 4:16-17

    And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

  • Matthew 13:20

    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16,17; Eze 11:19; 36:26; Ho 10:12; Am 6:12; Mt 13:5,6,20; Lu 8:6,13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 4:4

    And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

  • Mark 4:5

    And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

  • Mark 4:6

    But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Read all of Mark 4

Mark 4:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y otra parte cayó en pedregales, donde no tenía mucha tierra; y luego salió, porque no tenía la tierra profunda:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et d’autres tombèrent sur les endroits rocailleux où ils n’avaient pas beaucoup de terre; et aussitôt ils levèrent, parce qu’ils n’avaient pas une terre profonde;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und anderes fiel auf das Steinichte, wo es nicht viel Erde hatte; und alsbald ging es auf, weil es nicht tiefe Erde hatte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Aliud vero cecidit super petrosa, ubi non habuit terram multam: et statim exortum est, quoniam non habebat altitudinem terræ: