John 2:16

John 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Context of John 2:16

14In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

John 2:16 word by word

καὶ τοῖς τὰς περιστερὰς πωλοῦσιν εἶπεν· ἄρατε ταῦτα ἐντεῦθεν, μὴ ποιεῖτε τὸν οἶκον τοῦ πατρός μου οἶκον ἐμπορίου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto them that soldπωλέωpōleō · to sellG4453
• dovesπεριστεράperistera · doveG4058
• Takeαἴρωairō · to take upG142
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• henceἐντεῦθεν, ἔνθενenteuthen · from hereG1782
• makeποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• notμήmē · notG3361
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• Father’sπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• houseοἶκοςoikos · house: homeG3624
• of merchandiseἐμπόριονemporion · marketplace/tradeG1712

Cross-references for John 2:16

• Isaiah 56:5to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.
• Jeremiah 7:11Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.
• Hosea 12:7The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
• Matthew 21:13“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
• Mark 11:17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
• Acts 19:24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.
• 1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
• 2 Peter 2:3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
• John 5:17In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
• John 8:49“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
• John 10:29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
• John 20:17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
• Luke 2:49“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Commentaries on John 2:16

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 The first public work in which we find Christ engaged, was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-17Many people came to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. They needed animals that met the requirements for sacrifice. The animals had to be approved for worship. Because of this need, a large business developed. People sold animals and exchanged money for the right kind of coins. However, this buying and selling was taking place in the temple itself. Jesus acted like a prophet. He demanded that God’s house return to its true purpose. The temple was meant…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-2514-17. in the temple--not the temple itself, as Joh 2:19-21, but the temple-court. sold oxen, &c.--for the convenience of those who had to offer them in sacrifice. changers of money--of Roman into Jewish money, in which the temple dues (see on Mt 17:24) had to be paid.Read the comment

Topics related to John 2:16

• Church
• Covetousness
• God
• Jesus, the Christ
• Sacrilege
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Fill
• Hour
• Propitiation
• Scourge
• Syriac
• Temple
• Testify
• Debt; Debtor
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Father's House, Fathers' House

Commentaries on John 2

• 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
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings