Connecting Statement:

Jesus continues to explain to his disciples the parable about a person who sows seeds.

What was sown on rocky ground

The phrase "what was sown" refers to seed that fell. AT: "The seed that fell on rocky ground" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit)

"The rocky ground where seed was sown represents" or "The rocky ground where seed fell fell represents"

In the parable, the seed represents the word.

This represents God's message. AT: "the message" or "God's teaching" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

Believing the word is spoken of as receiving it. AT: "joyfully believes it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)