New International Version
Mark 11:32
32But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
Mark 11:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But shall we say, 'From man'?"—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet.
Context of Mark 11:32
30John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!” 31They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But 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.”
Read all of Mark 11Mark 11:32 word by word
ἀλλ᾽ εἴπωμεν· ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, ἐφοβοῦντο τὸν ἅπαντες γὰρ εἶχον τὸν Ἰωάννην ὄντως ὅτι προφήτης ἦν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- we shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- they fearedφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
- the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- allἅπαςhapas · allG537
- countedἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- a prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
- indeedὄντωςontōs · reallyG3689
Cross-references for Mark 11:32
- Mark 6:20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
- Mark 12:12Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
- Matthew 14:5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
- Matthew 21:46They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
- Luke 20:19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
- Luke 22:2and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
- Acts 5:26At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
- Matthew 3:5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.
- Matthew 21:31“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
- Luke 7:26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
- John 10:41and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.”
Commentaries on Mark 11:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32They feared the people - Or rather, We fear, etc. Instead of , they feared; the Codex Bezae, seven others, later Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala, read , or . The common reading appearing to me quite improper. We fear the people. , if, before , we shall say, is omitted by ABCEFGHLS, and more than fifty others. Bengel leaves it out of the text, and puts a note of interrogation after ; and then the whole passage reads…Read the comment
- 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 11:32
In the dictionaries
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
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