Mark 12:40

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 his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, 39and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.” 41Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. 42And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.

Mark 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 22:25Her princes within her are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they have devoured lives. They take away riches and valuable things; they have made many women widows within it.
• Micah 2:2They confiscate the fields they desire, and seize the houses they want. They defraud people of their homes, and deprive people of the land they have inherited.
• Micah 3:1I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just,
• Luke 20:47They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”
• 2 Timothy 3:6For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.
• Matthew 6:7When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard.
• Matthew 11:22But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you!
• Matthew 23:33You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
• Luke 12:47That servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.

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

• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer
• Satire
• Temple
• Wicked (People)
• Widow

In the dictionaries

• Catch
• Empty
• Gladly
• Salutation
• Whence
• Damn; Damnation; Damnable
• Jesus Christ
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Scribes
• Trade

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