Mark 12:35
New International Version
While 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?

New Living Translation
Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, “Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David?

English Standard Version
And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Berean Standard Bible
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

Berean Literal Bible
And answering, Jesus was saying, teaching in the temple, "How do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

King James Bible
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

New King James Version
Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

New American Standard Bible
And Jesus responded and began saying, as He taught in the temple area, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

NASB 1995
And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

NASB 1977
And Jesus answering began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus began to say, as He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Amplified Bible
Jesus began to say, as He taught in [a portico or court of] the temple, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Christian Standard Bible
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he asked, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Jesus asked this question as He taught in the temple complex, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?

American Standard Version
And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David?

Contemporary English Version
As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, "How can the teachers of the Law of Moses say the Messiah will come from the family of King David?

English Revised Version
And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?

Good News Translation
As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked the question, "How can the teachers of the Law say that the Messiah will be the descendant of David?

International Standard Version
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?

Majority Standard Bible
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, ?How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

NET Bible
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, "How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is David's son?

New Heart English Bible
Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

Weymouth New Testament
But, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it the Scribes say that the Christ is a son of David?

World English Bible
Jesus responded, as he taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Jesus answering said, teaching in the temple, “How do the scribes say that the Christ is son of David?

Berean Literal Bible
And answering, Jesus was saying, teaching in the temple, "How do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

Young's Literal Translation
And Jesus answering said, teaching in the temple, 'How say the scribes that the Christ is son of David?

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jesus having answered, said, teaching in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus answering, said, teaching in the temple: How do the scribes say, that Christ is the son of David?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And while teaching in the temple, Jesus said in answer: “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?

New American Bible
As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David?

New Revised Standard Version
While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yeshua answered and said as he taught in The Temple, “How are the Scribes saying that The Messiah is the son of David?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And Jesus, as he was teaching in the temple, answered and said: How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David?

Godbey New Testament
And Jesus responding spoke, teaching in the temple, How do the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?

Haweis New Testament
And Jesus addressing them said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Messiah is the Son of David?

Mace New Testament
As Jesus was teaching in the temple, he address'd himself to them, saying, why do the Scribes maintain that Christ is the son of David?

Weymouth New Testament
But, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it the Scribes say that the Christ is a son of David?

Worrell New Testament
And Jesus, answering, said, while teaching in the temple, "How do the scribes say that the Christ is David's Son?

Worsley New Testament
And Jesus spake and said, as He was teaching in the temple, How do the scribes say, that the Christ is the son of David?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Whose Son is the Christ?
34When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further. 35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.” ’…

Cross References
Matthew 22:41-46
While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: / “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered. / Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says: ...

Luke 20:41-44
Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David? / For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand / until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ ...

Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Acts 2:34-35
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand / until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

Hebrews 1:13
Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

Romans 1:3-4
regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, / and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 10:12-13
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. / Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

1 Corinthians 15:25
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Ephesians 1:20-22
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, / far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. / And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,

Colossians 3:1
Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Revelation 3:21
To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...

Psalm 2:7
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.


Treasury of Scripture

And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

while.

Mark 11:27
And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

Luke 19:47
And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

Luke 20:1
And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

How.

Matthew 22:41,42
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, …

Luke 20:41-44
And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son? …

John 7:42
Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

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Christ Courts David Jesus Law Responded Scribes Taught Teachers Teaching Temple
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.














While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts
This phrase sets the scene in the temple courts, a central place of worship and teaching in Jerusalem. The temple was not only a religious center but also a place for public discourse and debate. Jesus often taught in the temple, engaging with both followers and religious leaders. The temple courts were accessible to all, allowing Jesus to reach a broad audience. This setting emphasizes the public nature of His teaching and the authority with which He spoke.

He asked
Jesus often used questions as a teaching method to provoke thought and challenge prevailing assumptions. By asking questions, He engaged His listeners, encouraging them to reflect deeply on their beliefs and understanding of Scripture. This method was effective in revealing the hearts and minds of His audience, often exposing their misunderstandings or lack of insight.

“How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
The scribes were experts in the Jewish Law and were responsible for teaching and interpreting the Scriptures. They held that the Messiah, or Christ, would be a descendant of David, based on prophecies such as 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Isaiah 11:1. This belief was widely accepted in Jewish tradition. However, Jesus challenges this understanding by questioning how the Messiah could be merely David's son. This question points to the dual nature of the Messiah as both human and divine, suggesting that the Christ is greater than David. Jesus is leading His audience to consider the full identity of the Messiah, which includes His divine sonship, as later affirmed in passages like Romans 1:3-4.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, challenging the prevailing understanding of the Messiah's identity.

2. Scribes
Jewish religious leaders and scholars of the Law who taught that the Messiah would be a descendant of David.

3. Temple Courts
The public area of the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus often taught and engaged with both followers and religious leaders.

4. David
The second king of Israel, revered as a man after God's own heart, and the one through whom the Messiah was prophesied to come.

5. Christ (Messiah)
The anointed one, expected to be a descendant of David, who would deliver Israel.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Messiah's Identity
Jesus challenges the limited understanding of the Messiah as merely a political or earthly descendant of David. He points to a deeper, divine identity.

Scriptural Interpretation
Jesus demonstrates the importance of interpreting Scripture with spiritual insight, not just literal or traditional views.

Jesus' Authority
By questioning the scribes, Jesus asserts His authority over traditional teachings and reveals His divine nature.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies, showing that He is both the Son of David and the Son of God.

Engaging with Scripture
Believers are encouraged to engage deeply with Scripture, seeking to understand its full meaning and implications.(35) While he taught in the temple.--The locality is named by St. Mark only, but it is all but implied in the other two Gospels.

Verse 35. - Our Lord was now in the temple, and he took the opportunity for instructing the scribes and Pharisees concerning his person and his dignity. Thus, as ever, he returned good for evil. He here taught them that the Messiah was not a mere man, as they supposed, but that he was i both God and man, and that therefore they ought not to wonder or to be offended because he called himself the Son of God. St. Matthew (Matthew 22:42) more fully gives their answer first, namely, that "Christ is the Son of David." They should have said that, as God, he was the Son of God, according to those words, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee;" but that, as man, he was the Son of David. Their answer was very different from that of Peter: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." But they wanted the Divine knowledge which the disciples had gained.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
While
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[Jesus] was teaching
διδάσκων (didaskōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1321: To teach, direct, admonish. A prolonged form of a primary verb dao; to teach.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

temple courts,
ἱερῷ (hierō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2411: Neuter of hieros; a sacred place, i.e. The entire precincts of the Temple.

[He]
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

asked,
ἔλεγεν (elegen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“How
Πῶς (Pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

{can} the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

scribes
γραμματεῖς (grammateis)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1122: From gramma. A writer, i.e. scribe or secretary.

say
λέγουσιν (legousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ
Χριστὸς (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] son
υἱὸς (huios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207: A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.

of David?
Δαυίδ (Dauid)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.


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Mark 12:34
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