Mark 12:34

Mark 12:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
• New International Version (NIV)When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.

Context of Mark 12:34

32The scribe said to Him, “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him; 33and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered thoughtfully and intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one would dare to ask Him any more questions. 35Jesus began to say, as He taught in [a portico or court of] the temple, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36David himself said [when inspired] by the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord (the Father) said to my Lord (the Son, the Messiah), “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies under Your feet.” ’

Mark 12:34 word by word

καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὅτι νουνεχῶς ἀπεκρίθη εἶπεν αὐτῷ· οὐ μακρὰν εἶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ. καὶ οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι ἐτόλμα αὐτὸν ἐπερωτῆσαι.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• when Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• when JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• he answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• discreetlyνουνεχῶςnounechōs · wiselyG3562
• he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• farμακράνmakran · farG3112
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
• after thatοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
• durstτολμάωtolmaō · be boldG5111
• askἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905

Cross-references for Mark 12:34

• Matthew 12:20A battered reed He will not break, And a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, Until He leads justice to victory.
• Romans 3:20For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin].
• Romans 7:9I was once alive without [knowledge of] the Law; but when the commandment came [and I understood its meaning], sin became alive and I died [since the Law sentenced me to death].
• Galatians 2:19For through the Law I died to the Law and its demands on me [because salvation is provided through the death and resurrection of Christ], so that I might [from now on] live to God.
• Job 32:15“They (Job’s friends) are dismayed and embarrassed, they no longer answer; The words have moved away and failed them,” [says Elihu].
• Matthew 22:46No one was able to say a word to Him in answer, nor from that day on did anyone dare to question Him again.
• Luke 20:40And they did not dare to question Him further about anything [because of the wisdom He displayed in His answers].
• Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the Law [of Moses] says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the excuses of] every mouth may be silenced [from protesting] and that all the world may be held accountable to God [and subject to His judgment].
• Colossians 4:6Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].

Commentaries on Mark 12:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Thou art not far from the kingdom of God - This scribe appears to have been a prudent, sensible, and pious man; almost a Christian - so near the kingdom of God that he might have easily stepped in. It is very probable that he did at last believe in and confess Jesus.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28-34Verses 28-34 See the notes at Matthew 22:34-40. Mark 12:28 Perceiving that he answered them well - That is, with wisdom, and with a proper understanding of the law. In this case the opinion of the Saviour corresponded with that of the Pharisees; and the question which this scribe put to him now seems to have been one of the very few candid inquiries of him by the Jews for the purpose of obtaining information. Jesus answered it in the spirit of kindness…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-34Verses 28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The account ends with Jesus praising the teacher of religious law for understanding that these two commands were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices (see Hosea 6:6). We remain uncertain about what happened to this man. He was close to the kingdom of God, but did he enter it? Mark might have left this question open so each person would consider, Have I entered the kingdom of God?Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly--rather, "intelligently," or "sensibly"; not only in a good spirit, but with a promising measure of insight into spiritual things. he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God--for he had but to follow out a little further what he seemed sincerely to own, to find his way into the kingdom. He needed only the experience of another eminent scribe who at a later period said, "We know that the…Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 12:34

• Jesus, the Christ
• Satire
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• God
• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Kingdom of God
• Catch
• Empty
• Gladly
• Salutation
• Whence

Commentaries on Mark 12

• 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