Mark 12:42

Mark 12:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
• New International Version (NIV)But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.

Context of Mark 12:42

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.” 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. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a mite. 43Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this poor widow put in [proportionally] more than all the contributors to the treasury. 44For they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.”

Mark 12:42 word by word

καὶ ἐλθοῦσα μία χήρα πτωχὴ ἔβαλεν λεπτὰ δύο ὅ ἐστιν κοδράντης.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• there cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• a certainεἷςheis · oneG1520
• poorπτωχόςptōchos · poorG4434
• widowχήραchēra · widowG5503
• and she threw inβάλλωballō · to throw: putG906
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• mitesλεπτόςlepton · coinG3016
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• makeεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a farthingκοδράντηςkodrantēs · pennyG2835

Commentaries on Mark 12:42

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42Two mites - The word translated “mite” denotes a small coin made of brass - the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the “farthing” was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one-third of a cent.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-44Verses 41-44 Let us not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury. He knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He looks at the heart, and what our views are, in giving alms; and whether we do it as unto the Lord, or only to be seen of men. It is so rare to find any who would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find many who will do like to her; and yet our Saviour commends her, therefore we are sure that she did well and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 41-42The word treasury can refer to a building in the temple area where they stored temple money. Here, it refers to one of thirteen money chests into which gifts were placed. As Jesus watched, many rich people put in large amounts. Then, he noticed one poor widow who put in two small copper coins. (The Roman term quadrans suggests Mark wrote his Gospel for the church in Rome; see Mark Book Introduction, “Audience.”) These two coins were worth only one…Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 12:42

• Farthing
• Mite (a Lepta)
• Temple
• Widow
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Catch
• Empty
• Farthing
• Gladly
• Salutation
• Whence
• Chest
• Jesus Christ
• Make, Maker
• Mark, the Gospel According to

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