English Standard Version
Mark 12:34
34And 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Context of Mark 12:34
32And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 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. 35And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, "'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet."'
Read all of Mark 12Mark 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 bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
- Romans 3:20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
- Romans 7:9I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.
- Galatians 2:19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
- Job 32:15"They are dismayed; they answer no more; they have not a word to say.
- Matthew 22:46And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
- Luke 20:40For they no longer dared to ask him any question.
- Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
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
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries