Amplified Bible
Mark 12:40
40[these scribes] who devour (confiscate) widows’ houses, and offer long prayers for appearance’s sake [to impress others]. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
Mark 12:40 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
- New International Version (NIV)They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."
- New King James Version (NKJV)who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Context of Mark 12:40
38In [the course of] His teaching He was saying, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes [displaying their prominence], and like to receive respectful greetings in the market places, 39and [they love] the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of distinction and honor at banquets, [these scribes] who devour (confiscate) widows’ houses, and offer long prayers for appearance’s sake [to impress others]. These men will receive greater condemnation.” 41And He sat down opposite the [temple] treasury, and began watching how the people were putting money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in large sums. 42A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite.
Read all of Mark 12Mark 12:40 word by word
οἱ κατεσθίοντες τὰς οἰκίας τῶν χηρῶν καὶ προφάσει μακρὰ προσευχόμενοι, οὗτοι λήμψονται περισσότερον κρίμα.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- devourκατεσθίωkatesthiō · to devourG2719
- widows’χήραchēra · widowG5503
- housesοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- for a pretenceπρόφασιςprophasis · pretenseG4392
- makeπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
- longμακρόςmakros · long/distantG3117
- theseοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- shall receiveλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- greaterπερισσόςperissos · excessiveG4053
- damnationκρίμαkrima · judgmentG2917
Cross-references for Mark 12:40
- Ezekiel 22:25There is a conspiracy of her [false] prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured [human] life; they have taken [in their greed] treasure and precious things; they have made many widows among her.
- Micah 2:2They covet fields and seize them, And houses, and take them away. They oppress and rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.
- Micah 3:1And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know and administer justice?
- Matthew 23:14[Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]
- Luke 20:47These [men] who confiscate and devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense [to appear devout] offer long prayers. These [men] will receive the greater [sentence of] condemnation.”
- 2 Timothy 3:6For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses,
- Matthew 6:7“And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
- Matthew 11:22Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for [the pagan cities of] Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
- Matthew 23:33You serpents, you spawn of vipers, how can you escape the penalty of hell?
- Luke 12:47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip],
Commentaries on Mark 12:40
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 40Which devour widows‘ houses - Which devour the families of widows, or the means of supporting their families. This they did under pretence of counseling them in the knowledge of the law and in the management of their estates. They took advantage of their ignorance and their unprotected state, and either extorted large sums for their counsel, or perverted the property to their own use. No wonder that our Saviour denounced them! If there is any sin of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-40Verses 35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 40The teachers of religious law broke the second command by failing to love their neighbors, as was seen in their cheating widows of their property. They clearly were cheating the most vulnerable and needy people despite God’s concern for widows (Deuteronomy 14:29; Psalms 68:5; 146:9; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:6; 49:11) and his condemnation of those who mistreat them (Isaiah 1:23; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5). The teachers of religious law…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4040. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation--They took advantage of their helpless condition and confiding character to obtain possession of their property, while by their "long prayers" they made them believe they were raised far above "filthy lucre." So much the "greater damnation" awaited them. (Compare Mt 23:33). A lifelike description this of the Romish clergy, the true successors of…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 12:40
In the dictionaries
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
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