Font Size
Mark 12:38-40
New International Version
Mark 12:38-40
New International Version
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(A) 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Mark 12:38-40
New English Translation
Mark 12:38-40
New English Translation
Warnings About Experts in the Law
38 In his teaching Jesus[a] also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law.[b] They like walking[c] around in long robes and elaborate greetings[d] in the marketplaces,[e] 39 and the best seats in the synagogues[f] and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They[g] devour widows’ property,[h] and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 12:38 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Mark 12:38 tn Or “for the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.
- Mark 12:38 tn In Greek this is the only infinitive in vv. 38-39. It would be awkward in English to join an infinitive to the following noun clauses, so this has been translated as a gerund.
- Mark 12:38 sn There is later Jewish material in the Talmud that spells out such greetings in detail. See H. Windisch, TDNT 1:498.
- Mark 12:38 sn See the note on marketplaces in Mark 6:56.
- Mark 12:39 sn See the note on synagogue in 1:21.
- Mark 12:40 tn Grk “who,” continuing the sentence begun in v. 38.
- Mark 12:40 tn Grk “houses,” “households”; however, the term can have the force of “property” or “possessions” as well (O. Michel, TDNT 5:131; BDAG 695 s.v. οἶκια 1.a).
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.