Mark 11:32

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.
• New International Version (NIV)But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
• 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.

Context of Mark 11:32

30“Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!” 31They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 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. 33So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Mark 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 6:20for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
• Mark 12:12The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. 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 a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.
• Matthew 21:46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
• Luke 20:19The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
• Luke 22:2The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
• Acts 5:26The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them.
• Matthew 3:5People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.
• Matthew 21:31“Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.
• Luke 7:26Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
• Luke 20:6But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.”
• John 10:41And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come 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

• John
• Opinion, Public
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• All
• 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