Mark 12:40
◄  Mark 12:40  ►
New International Version (©2011)
They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

New Living Translation (©2007)
Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished."

English Standard Version (©2001)
who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive harsher punishment."

International Standard Version (©2012)
They devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!"

NET Bible (©2006)
They devour widows' property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment."

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
They who devour widows' houses by an offering for making their long prayers; they shall receive the greater judgment.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make themselves look good. The scribes will receive the most severe punishment."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.

American King James Version
Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

American Standard Version
they that devour widows houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who devour the houses of widows under the pretence of long prayer: these shall receive greater judgment.

Darby Bible Translation
who devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive a severer judgment.

English Revised Version
they which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.

Webster's Bible Translation
Who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Weymouth New Testament
and who swallow up the property of widows and then mask their wickedness by making long prayers: these men will receive far heavier punishment."

World English Bible
those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Young's Literal Translation
who are devouring the widows' houses, and for a pretence are making long prayers; these shall receive more abundant judgment.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 40. - There is a change in the construction here, which is not marked in the Authorized Version. The sentence in this fortieth verse should stand alone, and be read thus: They which devour (οἱ κατεσθίοντες) widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation. The sentence thus read is far more graphic. The statement thus becomes indeed more general, but the reference is still to the scribes who through their avarice swallowed up the property of helpless widows, and through their hypocrisy, in the hope of thus more effectually imposing upon their victims, lengthened out their prayers. Greater condemnation. The word in the Greek is κρίμα, that is, "judgment." A severer sentence would fall upon them in the day of judgment and a heavier condemnation, because, under the semblance of piety, they practiced iniquity, and indulged their avarice under the mask of religion.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Which devour widows' houses,.... See Gill on Matthew 23:14.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

40. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation—They took advantage of their helpless condition and confiding character to obtain possession of their property, while by their "long prayers" they made them believe they were raised far above "filthy lucre." So much the "greater damnation" awaited them. (Compare Mt 23:33). A lifelike description this of the Romish clergy, the true successors of "the scribes."

Mark 12:40 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Beware of the Scribes
38And he said to them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, 39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: 40Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Matthew 23:14
Mark 12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
Luke 20:47 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."
2 Corinthians 11:20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.