Luke 8:7

8:7 Other seed fell among the thorns, ¹  and they grew up with it and choked ²  it.

Luke 8:13-14

8:13 Those ³  on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, ⁴  but ⁵  in a time of testing ⁶  fall away. ⁷  8:14 As for the seed that ⁸  fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but ⁹  as they go on their way they are choked ¹⁰  by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, ¹¹  and their fruit does not mature. ¹² 

[8:7]  ¹ sn Palestinian weeds like these thorns could grow up to six feet in height and have a major root system.

[8:7]  ² sn That is, crowded out the good plants.

[8:13]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[8:13]  ⁴ sn This time of temporary faith represented by the description believe for a while is presented rather tragically in the passage. The seed does not get a chance to do all it can.

[8:13]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:13]  ⁶ tn Traditionally, “temptation.” Such a translation puts the emphasis on temptation to sin rather than testing of faith, which is what the context seems to indicate.

[8:13]  ⁷ sn Fall away. On the idea of falling away and the warnings against it, see 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 3:12; Jer 3:14; Dan 9:9.

[8:14]  ⁵ tn Grk “What”; the referent (the seed) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:14]  ⁶ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:14]  ⁷ sn That is, their concern for spiritual things is crowded out by material things.

[8:14]  ⁸ sn On warnings about the dangers of excessive material attachments, described here as the worries and riches and pleasures of life, see Luke 12:12-21; 16:19-31.

[8:14]  ⁹ tn The verb τελεσφορέω (telesforew) means “to produce mature or ripe fruit” (L&N 23.203). Once again the seed does not reach its goal.