God’s Word Translation
Mark 12:14
14When they came to him, they said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?”
Mark 12:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not?
- New International Version (NIV)They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
Context of Mark 12:14
12They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them. So they left him alone and went away. 13The leaders sent some of the Pharisees and some of Herod’s followers to Jesus. They wanted to trap him into saying the wrong thing. When they came to him, they said, “Teacher, we know that you tell the truth. You don’t favor individuals because of who they are. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay taxes to the emperor or not? Should we pay taxes or not?” 15Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it.” 16They brought a coin. He said to them, “Whose face and name is this?” They told him, “The emperor’s.”
Read all of Mark 12Mark 12:14 word by word
καὶ ἐλθόντες λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός· οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων ἀλλ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις. ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And whenδέde · thenG1161
- they were comeὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- they were comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- they sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Masterδιδάσκαλοςdidaskalos · teacherG1320
- we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- trueἀληθήςalēthēs · trueG227
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ·οὐou · noG3756
- carestμέλωmelō · to concernG3199
- ·σύsu · youG4771
- forπερίperi · aboutG4012
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- thou regardestβλέπωblepō · to seeG991
- ·εἰςeis · towardG1519
- the personπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- teachestδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- inἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
- Is it lawfulἔξεστι, ἐξόνexesti · be permittedG1832
- to giveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- tributeκῆνσοςkēnsos · taxG2778
- to CesarΚαῖσαρKaisar · CaesarG2541
- orἤē · orG2228
Cross-references for Mark 12:14
- Mark 14:45Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
- Psalms 12:2All people speak foolishly. They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another.
- Psalms 55:21His speech is smoother than butter, but there is war in his heart. His words are more soothing than oil, but they are like swords ready to attack.
- Psalms 120:2O Lord, rescue me from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue.
- Proverbs 26:23⌞Like⌟ a clay pot covered with cheap silver, ⌞so⌟ is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
- Jeremiah 42:2They said to him, “Please listen to our request, and pray to the Lord your God for all of us who are left here. As you can see, there are only a few of us left.
- John 7:18Those who speak their own thoughts are looking for their own glory. But the man who wants to bring glory to the one who sent him is a true teacher and doesn’t have dishonest motives.
- 2 Corinthians 2:2After all, if I had made you uncomfortable, how could you have cheered me up when you were uncomfortable?
- 2 Corinthians 4:1We don’t become discouraged, since God has given us this ministry through his mercy.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4Rather, we are always spreading the Good News. God trusts us to do this because we passed his test. We don’t try to please people but God, who tests our motives.
- Deuteronomy 33:9They said that they didn’t know their father and mother. They didn’t recognize their own brothers. They didn’t acknowledge their own children. But they obeyed your word and were faithful to the terms of your promise.
- 2 Chronicles 18:13Micaiah answered, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, I will tell him whatever my God says to me.”
- Isaiah 50:7The Almighty Lord helps me. That is why I will not be ashamed. I have set my face like a flint. I know that I will not be put to shame.
- Jeremiah 15:19This is what the Lord says: If you will return, I will take you back. If you will speak what is worthwhile and not what is worthless, you will stand in my presence. The people will return to you, but you will not return to them.
- Ezekiel 2:6Son of man, don’t be afraid of them or the things they say. Don’t be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don’t let the things they say frighten you. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.
Commentaries on Mark 12:14
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 See the notes at Matthew 22:15-22.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 The enemies of Christ would be thought desirous to know their duty, when really they hoped that which soever side he took of the question, they might find occasion to accuse him. Nothing is more likely to insnare the followers of Christ, than bringing them to meddle with disputes about worldly politics. Jesus avoided the snare, by referring to the submission they had already made as a nation; and all that heard him, marvelled at the great…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14taxes: The Greek word refers to a poll tax, a tax each person paid to the government (compare Luke 2:1–2 and Acts 5:37).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master--Teacher. we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth--By such flattery--though they said only the truth--they hoped to throw Him off His guard. Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?--It was the civil poll tax paid by all enrolled in the "census." See on Mt 17:25.Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 12:14
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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