Amplified Bible
Mark 11:32
32But shall we say, ‘From men?’ ” —they were afraid [to answer because] of the crowd, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.
Mark 11:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
- New International Version (NIV)But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)But shall we say, 'From man'?"—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.
Context of Mark 11:32
30Was the baptism of John [the Baptist] from heaven [that is, ordained by God] or from men? Answer Me.” 31They began discussing it with each other, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From men?’ ” —they were afraid [to answer because] of the crowd, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet. 33So they replied to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Read all of Mark 11Mark 11:32 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ εἴπωμεν· ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- we shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- they fearedφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- allἅπαςhapas · allG537
- countedἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- indeedὄντωςontōs · reallyG3689
Cross-references for Mark 11:32
- Mark 6:20because Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he continually kept him safe. When he heard John [speak], he was very perplexed; but he enjoyed listening to him.
- Mark 12:12And they were looking for a way to seize Him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they knew that He spoke this parable in reference to [and as a charge against] them. And so they left Him and went away.
- Matthew 14:5Although Herod wished to have him put to death, he feared the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.
- Matthew 21:46And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the people, because they regarded Jesus as a prophet.
- Luke 20:19The scribes and the chief priests tried to [find a way to] arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people; because they understood that He spoke this parable against them.
- Luke 22:2The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].
- Acts 5:26Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).
- Matthew 3:5At that time Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
- Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of the father?” The chief priests and elders replied, “The first one.” Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you.
- Luke 7:26But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one far more [eminent and remarkable] than a prophet [who foretells the future].
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are firmly convinced that John was a prophet.”
- John 10:41Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was true and accurate.”
Commentaries on Mark 11:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32They feared the people - Or rather, We fear, etc. Instead of , they feared; the Codex Bezae, seven others, later Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala, read , or . The common reading appearing to me quite improper. We fear the people. , if, before , we shall say, is omitted by ABCEFGHLS, and more than fifty others. Bengel leaves it out of the text, and puts a note of interrogation after ; and then the whole passage reads…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27-33Verses 27-33 See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-33Verses 27-33 Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God were with him.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-32Jesus placed his opponents in a difficult position. Either answer would hurt their authority and reputation with the people. If they denied that John was a prophet, the crowd would likely become angry. But if they admitted that John was a prophet, they would also have to accept what John said about Jesus. That answer would also respond to their own question about the authority of Jesus (11:28).Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 11:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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