Mark 12:15
New International Version
Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

New Living Translation
Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.”

English Standard Version
But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

Berean Literal Bible
And knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius, that I might see it."

King James Bible
Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

New King James Version
Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.

New American Standard Bible
Are we to pay, or not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

NASB 1995
“Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

NASB 1977
“Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

Amplified Bible
Should we pay [the tax] or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a coin (denarius) to look at.”

Christian Standard Bible
But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Should we pay, or should we not pay?” But knowing their hypocrisy, He said to them, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to look at.”

American Standard Version
Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why make ye trial of me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he knew their treachery and he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a penny that I may see it.”

Contemporary English Version
Jesus knew what they were up to, and he said, "Why are you trying to test me? Show me a coin!"

Douay-Rheims Bible
Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? bring me a penny that I may see it.

English Revised Version
Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus recognized their hypocrisy, so he asked them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a coin so that I can look at it."

Good News Translation
But Jesus saw through their trick and answered, "Why are you trying to trap me? Bring a silver coin, and let me see it."

International Standard Version
Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus replied to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."

Literal Standard Version
And He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you tempt Me? Bring Me a denarius, that I may see”;

Majority Standard Bible
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”

New American Bible
Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.”

NET Bible
But he saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it."

New Revised Standard Version
Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.”

New Heart English Bible
Should we pay, or should we not pay?" But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."

Webster's Bible Translation
Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

Weymouth New Testament
Shall we pay, or shall we refuse to pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, replied, "Why try to ensnare me? Bring me a shilling for me to look at."

World English Bible
Shall we give, or shall we not give?” But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 'Why me do ye tempt? bring me a denary, that I may see;'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paying Taxes to Caesar
14“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?” 15But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” 16So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.…

Cross References
Matthew 20:2
He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

Mark 12:14
"Teacher," they said, "we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?"

Mark 12:16
So they brought it, and He asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they answered.

John 8:6
They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger.


Treasury of Scripture

Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, Why tempt you me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

knowing.

Matthew 22:18
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Luke 20:23
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

John 2:24,25
But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, …

Why.

Mark 10:2
And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

Ezekiel 17:2
Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

Acts 5:9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

a penny.

Jump to Previous
Coin Conscious Denarius Denary Ensnare Hypocrisy Jesus Pay Penny Refuse Shilling Shouldn't Tempt Test Testing Trap Try Trying
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Coin Conscious Denarius Denary Ensnare Hypocrisy Jesus Pay Penny Refuse Shilling Shouldn't Tempt Test Testing Trap Try Trying
Mark 12
1. Jesus tells the parable of the tenants
13. He avoids the snare of the Pharisees and Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar;
18. convicts the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection;
28. resolves the scribe, who questioned of the first commandment;
35. refutes the opinion that the scribes held of the Christ;
38. bidding the people to beware of their ambition and hypocrisy;
41. and commends the poor widow for her two mites, above all.














(15) But he, knowing their hypocrisy.--St. Mark uses the specific word that describes the sin of the questioners, instead of the more general "wickedness" of St. Matthew. On the other hand, he omits the word "hypocrites" as applied to them by our Lord.

Verses 15, 16. - St. Matthew (Matthew 22:18) says, "But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?' You pretend that you are approaching me with a good conscience, sincerely desirous to know how you ought to act in this matter; when at the same time you are enemies alike of me and of God, and are thirsting for my blood, and are doing all in your power to torment me, and to entangle me by fraud. "The first virtue," says St. Jerome, "of the respondent is to know the mind of the questioner, and to adapt his answer accordingly." These Pharisees and Heredians flatter Christ that they may destroy him; but he rebukes them, that, if possible, be might save them. Bring me a penny, that I may see it. The Roman denarius was equal to about eight-pence halfpenny. This was the coin in which the tribute money was to be paid. It had stamped upon it the image of Tiberius Caesar, the then reigning Roman emperor. The cognomen of Caesar was first given to Julius Caesar, from whom it was devolved to his successors. The current coin of the country proved the subjection of the country to him whose image was upon it. Maimonides, quoted by Dr. John Lightfoot (vol. 2 p. 230), says, "Wheresoever the money of any king is current, there the inhabitants acknowledge that king for their lord."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus] saw through
εἰδὼς (eidōs)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

hypocrisy
ὑπόκρισιν (hypokrisin)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5272: From hupokrinomai; acting under a feigned part, i.e. deceit.

[and] said,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Why
Τί (Ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are you testing
πειράζετε (peirazete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3985: To try, tempt, test. From peira; to test, i.e. Endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline.

Me?
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

Bring
φέρετέ (pherete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5342: To carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known. A primary verb.

Me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

a denarius
δηνάριον (dēnarion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1220: A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.

to
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

inspect.”
ἴδω (idō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.


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NT Gospels: Mark 12:15 Shall we give or shall we not (Mar Mk Mr)
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