Mark 4:5

4:5 Other seed fell on rocky ground ¹  where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. ² 

Mark 4:7

4:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, ³  and they grew up and choked it, ⁴  and it did not produce grain.

¹ sn The rocky ground in Palestine would be a limestone base lying right under the soil.

² tn Grk “it did not have enough depth of earth.”

³ sn Palestinian weeds like these thorns could grow up to six feet in height and have a major root system.

⁴ sn That is, crowded out the good plants.