Word order in the Bible is not accidental
Every word in the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament, and every word in the original Greek text of the New Testament is in a precise placement. Checking the word order helps to verify the original writing. This simple study in Jesus' parable of the sower is just one example of another layer of the awesome complexity that the Holy Spirit has arranged in the Word of God.
Word order in the Bible is not accidental
The parable of the sower
Jesus’ first parable is the parable of the sower. It’s found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke [Matt 13:3-23 Mark 4:3-20 Luke 8:4-15].
Seed is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). The seed is cast wide. Some listen. Some don’t. Some grow. Some don’t.
Is the message forced on some and withheld from others? No. Seed falls on soil. The soil is the heart. Fruitful soil has vital characteristics.
#1 … Good soil is an understanding heart (Matt 13:23).
And the understanding is about Jesus, and forgiveness, and grace … in the cross … not self serving … but knowing Him. The word for “understanding” is the 7396th word in the original Greek text of the New Testament. (See LivingGreekNT.org for text and word order.) The word order is not accidental. God has arranged it this way.
7396 is 86 x 86. And 86 is the numeric value of the first word in the Bible for God … Elohim.
#2 … Good soil is someone who accepts the Word (Mark 4:16)
Mind is engaged … understanding. Will is engaged … free will. The fruitful person believes, and responds. Christianity isn’t something that is done to us. It’s a life we participate in.
#3 … Good soil stands for the person with a good and noble heart (Luke 8:15)
Mind is engaged. Will is engaged. And heart is engaged. This word … translated good or noble … is the 35,828th word in the original Greek text of the New Testament. And that number works out at 26 x 26 x 53. And that is not an accident. 26 is the value of the Old Testament word that represents the Name of the LORD. Jesus is the LORD.
The first heart condition … understanding: 86 x 86. The ultimate condition … a good heart: 26 x 26 x 53.
