Mark 11:31

Mark 11:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
• New Living Translation (NLT)They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.

Context of Mark 11:31

29Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Mark 11:31 word by word

καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντες· ἐὰν εἴπωμεν· ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ· διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• they reasonedλογίζομαιlogizomai · to countG3049
• withπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• he will sayἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• did yeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• notοὐou · noG3756
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Mark 11:31

• Matthew 11:7As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
• Matthew 21:25John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
• John 1:15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”)
• John 3:29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Commentaries on Mark 11:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27-33Verses 27-33 See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-33Verses 27-33 Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God were with him.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-32Jesus placed his opponents in a difficult position. Either answer would hurt their authority and reputation with the people. If they denied that John was a prophet, the crowd would likely become angry. But if they admitted that John was a prophet, they would also have to accept what John said about Jesus. That answer would also respond to their own question about the authority of Jesus (11:28).Read the comment

Topics related to Mark 11:31

• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Authority in Religion
• Jesus Christ
• King, Christ As
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Olives, Mount of

Commentaries on Mark 11

• 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