Matthew 13:5

Some fell vpon stony places, where they had not much earth: and foorth with they sprung vp, because they had no deepenesse of earth.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

"Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:
- American Standard Version (1901)

And some of the seed went among the stones, where it had not much earth, and straight away it came up because the earth was not deep:
- Basic English Bible

and others fell upon the rocky places where they had not much earth, and immediately they sprang up out of [the ground] because of not having [any] depth of earth,
- Darby Bible

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
- Webster's Bible

Some falls on rocky ground, where it has but scanty soil. It quickly shows itself above ground, because it has no depth of earth;
- Weymouth Bible

Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn't have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
- World English Bible

But othere seedis felden in to stony places, where thei hadden not myche erthe; and anoon thei sprongen vp, for thei hadden not depnesse of erthe.
- Wycliffe Bible

and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and immediately they sprang forth, through not having depth of earth,
- Youngs Literal Bible

Wesley's Notes for Matthew 13:5

13:3 In parables - The word is here taken in its proper sense, for apt similes or comparisons. This way of speaking, extremely common in the eastern countries, drew and fixed the attention of many, and occasioned the truths delivered to sink the deeper into humble and serious hearers. At the same time, by an awful mixture of justice and mercy, it hid them from the proud and careless. In this chapter our Lord delivers seven parables; directing the four former (as being of general concern) to all the people; the three latter to his disciples. Behold the sower - How exquisitely proper is this parable to be an introduction to all the rest! In this our Lord answers a very obvious and a very important question. The same sower, Christ, and the same preachers sent by him, always sow the same seed: why has it not always the same effect? He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!

13:4 And while he sowed, some seeds fell by the highway side, and the birds came and devoured them - It is observable, that our Lord points out the grand hinderances of our bearing fruit, in the same order as they occur. The first danger is, that the birds will devour the seed. If it escape this, there is then another danger, namely, lest it be scorched, and wither away. It is long after this that the thorns spring up and choke the good seed. A vast majority of those who hear the word of God, receive the seed as by the highway side. Of those who do not lose it by the birds, yet many receive it as on stony places. Many of them who receive it in a better soil, yet suffer the thorns to grow up, and choke it: so that few even of these endure to the end, and bear fruit unto perfection: yet in all these cases, it is not the will of God that hinders, but their own voluntary perverseness.