Mark 4:5 (BSB)
Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
Commentary on Mark 4:5
- Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Mark 4:1-20: The foregoing chapter began with Christ's entering into the synagogue (Mar 4:1); this chapter begins with Christ's teaching again by the sea side. Thus he changed his method, that if possible all might be reached and wrought upon. To gratify the nice and more genteel sort of people that had seats, chief seats, in the synagogue, and did not care for hearing a sermon any...
- John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Mark 4:5: But when the sun was up, it was scorched,.... When persecution arose because of the word, and that became very hot and vehement, it tried and pierced through this thin speculative knowledge of the word, which could not stand before it, and bear the heat of it: and because it had no root, it withered away; the word had only a place in the head...
- John Lightfoot (Puritan), Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae on Mark 4:5: [Because it had no depth of earth.] For it was rocky, whose turf nevertheless was thick enough, and very fruitful; but this ground which the parable supposeth wanted that thickness. "You have not a more fruitful land among all lands than the land of Egypt; nor a more fruitful country in Egypt than Zoan.