The Meaning of Luke 8:6 Explained

Luke 8:6

KJV: And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

YLT: 'And other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it did wither, through not having moisture.

Darby: and other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it was dried up because it had not moisture;

ASV: And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  some  fell  upon  a rock;  and  as soon as it was sprung up,  it withered away,  because  it lacked  moisture. 

What does Luke 8:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 8:1-15 - Various Hearers Of The Word Of God
Hitherto our Lord had made Capernaum His center; now He started on a circuit through the province of Galilee, going through its cities and villages in a systematic and leisurely manner. It must have been a great opportunity for the instruction of the Twelve in His doctrine and methods.
The parable of the sower was suggested by the scenery before the speaker. There is an advance in the stages of reception and growth, indicating the several phases of experience. The success or failure of gospel preaching is determined by the character of the soil. In every crowd there are the hardened, like the trodden path; the impulsive, like the thin layer of earth upon the rock; those with a heart divided by riches or cares, like the thorn encumbered soil; and those who receive with joy and bear fruit with patience. The Lord veiled His meaning in parables. Increased light would only add to the condemnation of disobedient hearers. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 8

1  Women minister unto Jesus of their own means
4  Jesus, after he had preached from place to place,
9  explains the parable of the sower,
16  and the candle;
19  declares who are his mother, and brothers;
22  rebukes the winds;
26  casts the legion of demons out of the man into the herd of pigs;
37  is rejected by the Gadarenes;
43  heals the woman of her bleeding;
49  and raises Jairus's daughter from death

Greek Commentary for Luke 8:6

Upon the rock [επι την πετραν]
Mark 4:5 “the rocky ground” (επι το πετρωδες — epi to petrōdes), Matthew 13:5 “the rocky places. [source]
As soon as it grew [πυεν]
Second aorist passive participle of πυω — phuō an old verb to spring up like a sprout.Withered away (εχηραντη — exēranthē). First aorist passive indicative of ζηραινω — zērainō old verb, to dry up.Moisture Here only in the N.T., though common word. [source]
Withered away [εχηραντη]
First aorist passive indicative of ζηραινω — zērainō old verb, to dry up. [source]
Moisture [ικμαδα]
Here only in the N.T., though common word. [source]
The rock [τὴν πέτραν]
Matthew has the rocky place, and Mark the rocky ground. [source]
Sprung up [φυὲν]
Lit., having sprung up. Rev., better, grew. Sprung up is Matthew's ὲξανέτειλεν . Only here and Hebrews 7:15, where it is a quotation from the Septuagint. See on Matthew 13:7. [source]
Moisture [ἱκμάδα]
Only here in New Testament. Matthew and Mark have depth of earth. The word is the medical expression for juices of the body, of plants, and of the earth. Aristophanes, metaphorically, the juice of thought (“Clouds,” 233). Hippocrates uses this and the preceding word together, comparing the juices of the body with those of the earth. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 8:6

Luke 8:7 Sprung up with it [συμφυεῖσαι]
Only here in New Testament. See on Luke 8:6, and Matthew 13:7. The technical word among physicians for closing of wounds or ulcers, and the uniting of nerves or bones. Dioscorides uses it, as here, of plants growing in the same place: “The hellebore grows together with the vines.” [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 8:6 mean?

And other fell upon the rock having sprung up it withered through - no having moisture
Καὶ ἕτερον κατέπεσεν ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν φυὲν ἐξηράνθη διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἰκμάδα

ἕτερον  other 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ἀλλοιόω 
Sense: the other, another, other.
κατέπεσεν  fell 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταπίπτω  
Sense: to fall down.
ἐπὶ  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
πέτραν  rock 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πέτρα  
Sense: a rock, cliff or ledge.
φυὲν  having  sprung  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: φύω  
Sense: to beget, bring forth, produce.
ἐξηράνθη  it  withered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ξηραίνω  
Sense: to make dry, dry up, wither.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μὴ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
ἰκμάδα  moisture 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἰκμάς  
Sense: moisture.