Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Alternative: And having no foundation inside themselves, it [the joy] only exists temporarily; soon pressure or harassment produced by the word immediately causes them to stumble.

In original Greek, the word play works better than the common translation. The idea is that if you don't have a stable base or foundation, they you can easily stumble. None of the words here, other than the word translated as "offended" are used as symbols by Christ. The word "root" might seem to be an obvious symbol because Christ uses plants so much as analogies, but Christ only uses it in this story. He uses it hear because it works so well with the idea of stumbling.

Aside from the wordplay, this verse advances the story of what happens when people have new ideas. On the "wayside," the new idea doesn't have a chance because the adversities of life don't give it a chance to sprout. Here, however, the ideas do take root, but because new ideas naturally create resistance, you need a foundation to solidify them. Since Christ earth is Christ's symbol for relationships and emotional connections, he is saying that you have to have deeper relationships so that you aren't swayed by the crowd, which always opposes new ideas.

Again, the issue of time is important here. While the idea has time to grow here, the people with it immediately stumble at the first signs of opposition.

"Root" is from rhiza (rhiza), which means "root," "that from which anything springs as a root," "foundation," "base," "the mathematical base," and the "root of the eye."

"And" is alla (alla) which means "but," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay." It denotes an exception.

"Endures" is from eimi (eisi), which means "to be,""to exist," "to be the case," and "is possible."

"For awhile" is from proskairos (proskairos), which means "occasional," "temporary," "opportune," and "lasting for a time."

"Afterward," is from eita (eita), which means "than," "next," "presently," and "soon."

"Affliction" is from thlipsis, which means "pressure," "crushing," and "oppression."

"Persecution" is from diôgmos, which means "the chase," "pursuit," and "harassment."
and "to scandalize."

"Arises" is from gignomai (ginomai), which means "to become," "to come into being," "to be produced," and "to be."

"Therefore" is from dia, which means "through" in space, "throughout" in time, "by this cause," "through," "thanks to," "by the aid of," "right through," and "to the end."

"Immediately" is from eutheôs (eutheos), which is the adverb of euthus, which means "straight," "direct," "straightforward," and "frank." As an adverb, it means "straight," "simple," "straightway," forthwith," "immediately," "directly," and "at once."


"Offended" is from skandalizô (skandalizo), which means "to cause to stumble," "to give offense," and "to scandalize."