Mark 11:31
◄  Mark 11:31  ►
New International Version (©2011)
They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

New Living Translation (©2007)
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They began to argue among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

International Standard Version (©2012)
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he'll say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

NET Bible (©2006)
They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And they reasoned in themselves and they said, “If we say to him from Heaven, he will say to us, 'And why did you not believe him?' “

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They discussed this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

American King James Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

American Standard Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Douay-Rheims Bible
But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

Darby Bible Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why then have ye not believed him?

English Revised Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Webster's Bible Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Weymouth New Testament
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

World English Bible
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Young's Literal Translation
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:27-33 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.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 31, 32. - They reasoned with themselves, like men anxious and perplexed. If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? For he told you I was the promised Messias, and bade you prepare yourselves by repentance to receive my grace and salvation. But should we say, From men - they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. This is a broken sentence, but very expressive. The evangelist leaves his reader to supply what they meant. They deemed it prudent not to finish the sentence; and probably cut it short with some significant gesture. They did not like to confess that they feared the people; although this was the true reason why they hesitated to say that John's baptism was of men. They knew that all the people held John to be a prophet. They were thus thrown on one or other horn of a dilemma.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they reasoned with themselves saying,.... Privately; perhaps, they withdrew at a little distance for a short time, and consulted among themselves what answer to return; and the amount of their reasonings were this;

if we shall say from heaven, he will say, why then did ye not believe him? that is, should they say that John had a divine commission for what he said and did, they were aware that Christ would reply, why did not ye give credit to him? and had you done so, seeing he testified of me, you would have had no occasion to have put the above question; See Gill on Matthew 21:25.

Mark 11:31 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Jesus' Authority Challenged
…30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him? 32But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

Matthew 16:7 They discussed this among themselves and said, "It is because we didn't bring any bread."
Matthew 21:25 John'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?'
Mark 11:30 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!"
Mark 11:32 But if we say, 'Of human origin' ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)