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Mark 4:8
ESV And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
NIV Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.'
NASB Other seeds fell into the good soil, and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much.'
CSB Still other seed fell on good ground and it grew up, producing fruit that increased thirty, sixty, and a hundred times."
NLT Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!'
KJV And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

What does Mark 4:8 mean?

As the sower spreads his seed, some falls on the hardened path, the rocky ground, and the thorn patch. The sower's aim, however, is the field of good soil. This soil not only allows the seed to root deeply, it nourishes the sprout, ensuring it grows and produces more seed—up to one hundred times as much as was planted.

Jesus explains that this ground represents the heart that is ready to hear and accept His words (Mark 4:20). It is not hardened, or easily deceived by Satan's lies (Mark 4:15). It does not have a short attention span, vulnerable to criticism of its faith (Mark 4:17). And it is not easily swayed by the delights of the world that would distract it from eternal things (Mark 4:19).

Good soil isn't entirely protected from hardships. People who are open to Jesus' message can still be harassed by Satan, persecuted for their beliefs, and tempted by the world. But they hear Christ's words willingly and openly (Mark 4:24). Like the Bereans, they examine what they are taught to determine what is true (Acts 17:10–12). And they value the truth, letting it inform who they are and what they do.

The natural result is that they emulate Jesus in spreading the gospel and turn into sowers, themselves. They trust God with the harvest (Mark 4:26–29), and watch as their faithfulness draws dozens more to a saving relationship with Jesus.
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