New International Version
Mark 12:34
34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
Mark 12:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Context of Mark 12:34
32“Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. 35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’
Read all of Mark 12Mark 12:34 word by word
καὶ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἰδὼν αὐτὸν ὅτι νουνεχῶς ἀπεκρίθη εἶπεν αὐτῷ· οὐ μακρὰν εἶ ἀπὸ τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ. καὶ οὐδεὶς οὐκέτι ἐτόλμα αὐτὸν ἐπερωτῆσαι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- when Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- when JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- discreetlyνουνεχῶςnounechōs · wiselyG3562
- he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Thou artεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- farμακράνmakran · farG3112
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- no manοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- after thatοὐκέτιouketi · not any moreG3765
- durstτολμάωtolmaō · be boldG5111
- askἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905
Cross-references for Mark 12:34
- Matthew 12:20A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.
- Romans 3:20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
- Romans 7:9Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died.
- Galatians 2:19“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
- Job 32:15“They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them.
- Matthew 22:46No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- Luke 20:40And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- Romans 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Colossians 4:6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Commentaries on Mark 12:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Thou art not far from the kingdom of God - This scribe appears to have been a prudent, sensible, and pious man; almost a Christian - so near the kingdom of God that he might have easily stepped in. It is very probable that he did at last believe in and confess Jesus.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28-34Verses 28-34 See the notes at Matthew 22:34-40. Mark 12:28 Perceiving that he answered them well - That is, with wisdom, and with a proper understanding of the law. In this case the opinion of the Saviour corresponded with that of the Pharisees; and the question which this scribe put to him now seems to have been one of the very few candid inquiries of him by the Jews for the purpose of obtaining information. Jesus answered it in the spirit of kindness…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-34Verses 28-34 Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The account ends with Jesus praising the teacher of religious law for understanding that these two commands were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices (see Hosea 6:6). We remain uncertain about what happened to this man. He was close to the kingdom of God, but did he enter it? Mark might have left this question open so each person would consider, Have I entered the kingdom of God?Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly--rather, "intelligently," or "sensibly"; not only in a good spirit, but with a promising measure of insight into spiritual things. he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God--for he had but to follow out a little further what he seemed sincerely to own, to find his way into the kingdom. He needed only the experience of another eminent scribe who at a later period said, "We know that the…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 12:34
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries