New International VersionThen Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
New Living Translation“Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.
English Standard VersionJesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.
Berean Standard BibleThen Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
Berean Literal BibleAnd Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God." And they were amazed at Him.
King James BibleAnd Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
New King James VersionAnd Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
New American Standard BibleAnd Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at Him.
NASB 1995And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
NASB 1977And Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
Amplified BibleJesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were greatly amazed at Him.
Christian Standard BibleJesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were amazed at Him.
American Standard VersionAnd Jesus said unto them, Render unto C�sar the things that are C�sar's, and unto God the things that are God's. And they marvelled greatly at him.
Contemporary English VersionThen Jesus told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God." The men were amazed at Jesus.
English Revised VersionAnd Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. And they marveled greatly at him.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationJesus said to them, "Give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God." They were surprised at his reply.
Good News TranslationSo Jesus said, "Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God." And they were amazed at Jesus.
International Standard VersionSo Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
NET BibleThen Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
New Heart English BibleAnd Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Jesus answering, said to them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they wondered at him.
Weymouth New Testament"What is Caesar's," replied Jesus, "pay to Caesar--and what is God's, pay to God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIn response Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
World English BibleJesus answered them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” They marveled greatly at him. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Jesus answering said to them, “Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God”; and they wondered at Him.
Berean Literal BibleAnd Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God." And they were amazed at Him.
Young's Literal Translation and Jesus answering said to them, 'Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;' and they did wonder at him.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Jesus having answered, said to them, Give back Caesar's things to Caesar, and the things of God to God. And they wondered at him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Jesus answering, said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
Catholic Public Domain VersionSo in response, Jesus said to them, “Then render to Caesar, the things that are of Caesar; and to God, the things that are of God.” And they wondered over him.
New American BibleSo Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him.
New Revised Standard VersionJesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleJesus said to them, Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. And they were amazed at him.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishYeshua said to them, “Give what is Caesar's to Caesar and what is God's to God.” And they marveled at him. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd Jesus answered and said to them: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they were astonished at him.
Godbey New Testament
And Jesus responding said to them,Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's. And they were astonished at Him.
Haweis New Testament
And Jesus addressing them, said, Render the things which are C�sar?s, to C�sar; and what belongs to God, to God. And they marvelled at him.
Mace New Testament
to which Jesus reply'd, render to Cesar what belongs to Cesar, and to God what belongs to God, and they were surprized at the answer.
Weymouth New Testament
"What is Caesar's," replied Jesus, "pay to Caesar--and what is God's, pay to God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him.
Worrell New Testament
And Jesus said to them,"Render to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him.
Worsley New Testament
And Jesus answered and said unto them,Renderthen unto Cesar the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at Him.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Paying Taxes to Caesar… 16So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. 17ThenJesustoldthem,“Giveto Caesarwhat isCaesar’s,andto Godwhat isGod’s.”Andthey marveledatHim.18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:…
Cross References Matthew 22:21“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Luke 20:25So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
Romans 13:7Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
1 Peter 2:13-17Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. / For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men. ...
Acts 5:29But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
Romans 13:1-2Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Matthew 17:24-27After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” / “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” / “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ...
Proverbs 24:21My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. / If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. / But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”
Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
1 Samuel 8:7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
1 Samuel 12:12But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.
Jeremiah 27:5-7By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please. / So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. / All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him.
Ezra 7:26If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
Nehemiah 9:37Its abundant harvest goes to the kings You have set over us because of our sins. And they rule over our bodies and our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.
Treasury of Scripture And Jesus answering said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at him. Render. Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king:and meddle not with them that are given to change: Matthew 17:25-27 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? … Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tributeis due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. and to. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: thisis the first commandment. Proverbs 23:26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Ecclesiastes 5:4,5 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; forhe hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed… And they. Job 5:12,13 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot performtheir enterprise… Matthew 22:22,33,46 When they had heardthese words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way… 1 Corinthians 14:24,25 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, orone unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: … Jump to Previous AmazedCaesarCaesar'sCesarCesar'sExceedinglyFullGod'sGreatlyJesusMarveledMarvelledPayRenderWonderWonderedJump to Next AmazedCaesarCaesar'sCesarCesar'sExceedinglyFullGod'sGreatlyJesusMarveledMarvelledPayRenderWonderWonderedMark 12 1.Jesus tells the parable of the tenants13.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.Then Jesus told themThis phrase indicates a direct response from Jesus to a question posed by the Pharisees and Herodians, who were attempting to trap Him with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. This encounter is set in the context of increasing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time. Jesus' response demonstrates His wisdom and authority, often leaving His challengers without a rebuttal. “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s
The mention of "Caesar" refers to the Roman Emperor, under whose rule Judea was a province. The Roman Empire imposed taxes on its subjects, which was a point of contention among the Jewish people, who resented Roman occupation. By stating this, Jesus acknowledges the legitimacy of secular authority and the obligation to fulfill civic duties. This phrase also reflects the broader biblical principle of respecting governing authorities, as seen inRomans 13:1-7, where Paul instructs believers to submit to governing authorities as they are established by God. and to God what is God’s.”
This part of the statement emphasizes the higher obligation to God, which transcends earthly authorities. It implies that while civic duties are important, spiritual obligations are paramount. This dual responsibility highlights the distinction between earthly and divine realms. The phrase calls believers to recognize God's sovereignty over all aspects of life, including those that belong to Him, such as worship, obedience, and moral conduct. This echoes the Shema fromDeuteronomy 6:4-5, which commands love and devotion to God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. And they marveled at Him.
The reaction of marveling indicates that Jesus' answer was unexpected and profound, leaving His questioners without a means to trap Him. This response showcases Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and ability to navigate complex social and political issues. The amazement of the crowd and His opponents is a recurring theme in the Gospels, where Jesus' teachings and actions often leave onlookers in awe, as seen inMatthew 7:28-29, where the crowds are astonished at His teaching because He taught with authority. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is responding to a question designed to trap Him. His wisdom and authority are evident in His response. 2. Pharisees and HerodiansThese groups came together to question Jesus, despite their usual opposition to each other. They sought to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. 3. CaesarThe Roman emperor at the time, representing the secular authority and government. 4. JerusalemThe setting of this event, a city under Roman occupation where tensions between Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities were high. 5. DenariusThe coin used in the question posed to Jesus, bearing the image of Caesar, symbolizing Roman authority and the economic system. Teaching Points Dual CitizenshipAs Christians, we are citizens of both earthly nations and the Kingdom of God. We have responsibilities to both, and Jesus' teaching helps us navigate these dual allegiances. Discernment in AllegianceJesus' response calls for discernment in how we prioritize our allegiances. While we respect and fulfill our duties to earthly authorities, our ultimate allegiance is to God. Image and OwnershipThe coin bore Caesar's image, signifying his ownership. We bear God's image, signifying His ownership over our lives. This calls us to live in a way that reflects His character and purposes. Wisdom in ConflictJesus demonstrates wisdom in handling conflict and opposition. His response avoids the trap set by His opponents and teaches a profound truth. Stewardship of ResourcesThe passage encourages us to consider how we use our resources—time, money, and talents—in service to both God and society. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Mark 12
What defines a cashless society?
What is the Gospel of the Kingdom about?
What was the Investiture Controversy about?
What did Jesus mean by 'Render to Caesar'?Verse 17. - Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. It is as though our Lord said, "Since you Jews are now subject to Caesar - and there is here this evidence of it, that his coin is current amongst you; you would not use it were you not obliged, because all Gentile rites and symbols are an abhorrence to you; - but since Caesar demands nothing of you but his tribute - the coin stamped with his own image and name - it is your duty to render to him his own denarius for tribute. But spiritual things, such as worship and obedience, give these to God; for these he demands from you as his right, and by so doing you will offend neither God nor yet Caesar." Our Lord, in his infinite wisdom, avoids the question altogether whether the Jews were rightly in subjection to the Romans. This was a doubtful question. But there could be no doubt as to the fact that they were tributary. This was made plain by the evidence of the current coin. Now, this being so, it was manifestly the duty of the Jewish people to give to Caesar the tribute money which he demanded of them for the expenses of government, and especially of supporting an army to defend them from their enemies. And it was no less their duty to give their tribute to God, which he in his own right demanded of them as his creatures and faithful subjects. The rights of Caesar are one thing, and those of God are another; and there is nothing that need clash between them. State polity is not opposed to religion, nor religion to state. Tertullian says, "'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's;' that is, give to Caesar his image stamped upon his coin, and give to God his own image stamped upon you; so that while you render to Caesar the coin which is his due, you may render your own self to God." This wonderful answer of our Lord teaches us that we ought to try to speak so wisely, and so to moderato our speech amongst those who are captious, that we may, if possible, offend neither side, but steer safely between Scylla and Charybdis. And they marvelled at him. The true Greek reading of the verb here is not ἐθαύμασαν, but ἐξεθαύμαζον, they marvelled greatly at him; they stood marvelling greatly at him. They marvelled at his wisdom and skill in extricating himself so readily out of this net in which they had hoped to entangle him. Indeed, the words of the psalmist ( Psalm 9:15) were verified in them: "The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." He vaulted over the trap set for him, leaving them entangled in it. He lifted up the question far above the petty controversy of the hour, and affirmed a great principle of natural and religious obligation which belongs alike to all times and persons and places.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Thenδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.JesusἸησοῦς(Iēsous)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424:Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.toldεἶπεν(eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.them,αὐτοῖς(autois)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 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.“Giveἀπόδοτε(apodote)Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 591:From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.to CaesarΚαίσαρι(Kaisari)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2541:Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor.what isΤὰ(Ta)Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.Caesar’s,Καίσαρος(Kaisaros)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2541:Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.to GodΘεῷ(Theō)Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.what isτὰ(ta)Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.God’s.”Θεοῦ(Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316:A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.AndΚαὶ(Kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.they marveledἐξεθαύμαζον(exethaumazon)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2296:(a) intrans: I wonder, marvel, (b) trans: I wonder at, admire. From thauma; to wonder; by implication, to admire.atἐπ’(ep’)Preposition
Strong's 1909:On, to, against, on the basis of, at.Him.αὐτῷ(autō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
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.
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NT Gospels: Mark 12:17 Jesus answered them Render to Caesar (Mar Mk Mr) |
