New International VersionThey all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
New Living TranslationFor they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
English Standard VersionFor they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
Berean Standard BibleFor they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Berean Literal BibleFor all cast in out of that which was abounding to them, but she out of her poverty cast in all, as much as she had of her whole livelihood."
King James BibleFor all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
New King James Versionfor they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
New American Standard Biblefor they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
NASB 1995for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
NASB 1977for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Legacy Standard Biblefor they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
Amplified BibleFor they all contributed from their surplus, but she, from her poverty, put in all she had, all she had to live on.”
Christian Standard BibleFor they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had —all she had to live on.”
Holman Christian Standard BibleFor they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on.”
American Standard Versionfor they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Contemporary English VersionEveryone else gave what they didn't need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn't have a cent to live on.
English Revised Versionfor they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAll of them have given what they could spare. But she, in her poverty, has given everything she had to live on."
Good News TranslationFor the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had--she gave all she had to live on."
International Standard Versionbecause all of them contributed out of their surplus, but out of her poverty she has given everything she had to live on."
NET BibleFor they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had."
New Heart English Biblefor they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on."
Webster's Bible TranslationFor all they cast in of their abundance: but she of her want cast in all that she had, even all her living.
Weymouth New Testamentfor they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--all she had to live on." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
World English Biblefor they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor all, out of their abundance, put in, but she, out of her want, put in all that she had—all her living.”
Berean Literal BibleFor all cast in out of that which was abounding to them, but she out of her poverty cast in all, as much as she had of her whole livelihood."
Young's Literal Translation for all, out of their abundance, put in, but she, out of her want, all that she had put in -- all her living.'
Smith's Literal TranslationFor all they cast in out of the abundance to them; and she, out of her want, cast in all things which she had, her whole living. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.
Catholic Public Domain VersionFor they all gave from their abundance, yet truly, she gave from her scarcity, even all that she had, her entire living.”
New American BibleFor they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”
New Revised Standard VersionFor all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor all of them cast of their abundance; but she of her poverty cast everything she had, even all of her possessions.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishFor they all cast in from the surplus that they had, but this one has cast in from her want, everything that she had; she cast in all her possessions.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor all have thrown in out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, has thrown in all that she had, her whole living.
Godbey New TestamentFor all they of that which abounds unto them cast in; but she of her scarcity cast in all things so many as she had, all her living.
Haweis New Testament
for all they have cast in of their superfluities; but she from her indigence hath cast in all that she had, even her whole substance.
Mace New Testament
for all the rest contributed out of their superfluous substance; but she has contributed what she wanted for her bare subsistence.
Weymouth New Testament
for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--all she had to live on."
Worrell New Testament
for they all did cast in out of their abundance; but she out of her want cast in all that she had—her whole living."
Worsley New Testament
Forthey allhave contributed out of their abundance: but she out of her penury hath given all that she had,even her whole living.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Widow's Offering… 43Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 44Forthey allcontributedout oftheirsurplus,butsheout ofherpovertyhas put inallshe hadto live on.”
Cross References Luke 21:4For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
2 Corinthians 8:12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
2 Corinthians 9:7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.
Philippians 4:18I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Acts 4:34-35There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
1 Timothy 6:17-19Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. / Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share, / treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Matthew 6:21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
Luke 12:33-34Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1 John 3:17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
Proverbs 3:9-10Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; / then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Malachi 3:10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
1 Kings 17:12-16But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” / “Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. “Go and do as you have said. But first make me a small cake of bread from what you have, and bring it out to me. Afterward, make some for yourself and your son, / for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” ...
2 Kings 4:1-7Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...
Deuteronomy 15:10Give generously to him, and do not let your heart be grieved when you do so. And because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything to which you put your hand.
Treasury of Scripture For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. cast in of. Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 1 Chronicles 29:2-17 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold forthings to be made of gold, and the silver forthings of silver, and the brass forthings of brass, the iron forthings of iron, and wood forthings of wood; onyx stones, andstones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance… 2 Chronicles 24:10-14 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end… all her. Deuteronomy 24:6 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketha man's life to pledge. Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Luke 15:12,30 And the younger of them said tohis father, Father, give me the portion of goods that fallethto me. And he divided unto themhis living… Jump to Previous AbundanceCastContributedLiveNeedOwnedPossessedPovertySomethingSpareSuperfluitySurplusThrownWantWealthWholeJump to Next AbundanceCastContributedLiveNeedOwnedPossessedPovertySomethingSpareSuperfluitySurplusThrownWantWealthWholeMark 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.For they all contributed out of their surplusThis phrase highlights the contrast between the wealthy donors and the poor widow. The wealthy gave from their abundance, which implies that their giving did not require personal sacrifice. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, the Temple treasury was a place where people could make offerings to support the Temple's operations and charitable activities. The act of giving from surplus suggests a lack of deep personal commitment or faith, as it did not affect their lifestyle or financial security. This can be compared to the Old Testament practice of tithing, where Israelites were commanded to give a tenth of their produce or income ( Leviticus 27:30-32), but the emphasis here is on the heart and sacrifice behind the giving. but she out of her poverty
The widow's poverty is significant, as it underscores her vulnerability and dependence on God. Widows in ancient Israel were often among the most marginalized and impoverished, lacking a male protector or provider. The Law of Moses included provisions for the care of widows (Deuteronomy 10:18, 24:19-21), yet many still lived in dire circumstances. Her action is a profound demonstration of faith and trust in God's provision, reminiscent of the widow of Zarephath who provided for Elijah out of her meager resources (1 Kings 17:8-16). has put in all she had to live on.
This phrase emphasizes the totality of the widow's sacrifice. She gave everything she had, which was likely a very small amount, yet it represented her entire livelihood. This act of giving is a powerful testament to her faith and devotion, as she entrusted her well-being entirely to God. It reflects the teaching of Jesus inMatthew 6:25-34, where He instructs His followers not to worry about their material needs but to seek first the kingdom of God. The widow's offering is a type of Christ's own sacrifice, as He gave His life completely for the salvation of humanity. Her act of giving all she had is a model of true discipleship and surrender to God's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is observing and teaching in the temple courts. 2. The Poor WidowA woman of humble means who gives two small coins, representing her total livelihood, as an offering. 3. The Rich ContributorsWealthy individuals who give large sums of money from their abundance. 4. The Temple TreasuryThe location within the temple where offerings were collected, serving as the backdrop for this teaching moment. 5. The DisciplesJesus' followers who are present and learning from His teachings and observations. Teaching Points Sacrificial GivingThe widow's offering teaches us that true generosity is measured not by the amount given, but by the heart and sacrifice behind it. Trust in God's ProvisionHer willingness to give all she had reflects a deep trust in God's provision, challenging us to rely on God rather than our own resources. Heart Over WealthJesus values the heart's intention over the monetary value of the gift, reminding us that God sees and honors our motives. Faith in ActionThe widow's act of giving is a demonstration of faith, encouraging believers to act on their faith even when resources are limited. Eternal PerspectiveThis passage invites us to consider the eternal impact of our giving, focusing on spiritual wealth rather than earthly riches. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Mark 12:44?
2.How does Mark 12:44 challenge our understanding of sacrificial giving today?
3.What does "gave out of her poverty" teach about true generosity?
4.How can we apply the widow's example in our financial stewardship?
5.What scriptural connections highlight the value of giving from the heart?
6.How does this verse encourage trust in God's provision despite limited resources?
7.How does Mark 12:44 challenge our understanding of true generosity and sacrifice?
8.What historical context influenced the message of Mark 12:44?
9.How does Mark 12:44 reflect the theme of humility in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 12?
11.What lesson does the widow's mite teach about giving?
12.What occurred on Holy Tuesday before Easter?
13.In 2 Corinthians 8:1-2, how can we trust Paul's claim that the impoverished Macedonians gave beyond their means if there's no external historical data corroborating their extreme poverty?
14.Who are the Franciscans?What Does Mark 12:44 Mean For they all contributed out of their surplus– Jesus contrasts the wealthy givers with the widow by pointing out that their offerings came from what was left over after their own needs were already met. – The gifts were sizable in appearance, but they did not require personal sacrifice; life went on unchanged afterward. – Scripture repeatedly warns against mistaking the size of a gift for the value God sees (1 Samuel 16:7;1 Chronicles 29:14;2 Samuel 24:24). – Giving that costs nothing demonstrates reliance on surplus, not reliance on the Lord (cf.Revelation 3:17).
but she out of her poverty– The widow’s two small coins (Mark 12:42) represented real poverty, yet she still approached God’s house to worship through giving. – God’s Word exalts those who, though materially poor, are “rich in faith” (James 2:5) and singles out widows for special care (Exodus 22:22–24;Psalm 68:5). – Her act mirrors the widow of Zarephath who gave Elijah her last meal and saw God supply daily bread (1 Kings 17:12–16). – Luke’s parallel account stresses the contrast even further: “this poor widow has put in more than all the others” (Luke 21:3).
has put in all she had to live on– The phrase is literal; she surrendered her entire means of daily support. – Such total surrender flows from wholehearted trust that “my God will supply all your needs” (Philippians 4:19) and that seeking first His kingdom ensures provision (Matthew 6:31–33). – Her gift illustrates the call to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1) and to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow” (Mark 8:34–35). – The Macedonian believers modeled the same spirit: “they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability… they first gave themselves to the Lord” (2 Corinthians 8:3–5). – In God’s economy, the value of a gift is measured by the faith and devotion behind it, not by its monetary amount (Hebrews 11:6).
summaryMark 12:44 shows that God weighs gifts by the surrender they represent. The wealthy gave leftovers; the widow staked her very life on God’s faithfulness. Her two coins outweighed all other offerings because she entrusted everything to the Lord she loved. The passage calls every believer to hold possessions loosely, give sacrificially, and trust wholly in the God who always provides. (44) They did cast in of their abundance . . . she of her want.--The contrast between the two Greek words is somewhat stronger: They of their superfluity . . .she of her deficiency. We recognise the same standard of judgment, possibly even an allusive reference to our Lord's language, in St. Paul's praises of the churches of Macedonia, whose "deep poverty" had "abounded unto the riches of their liberality" ( 2Corinthians 8:1-2). Even all her living.--This was not necessarily involved in the act itself, but the woman may have become known to our Lord in one of His previous visits to Jerusalem, or we may see in the statement an instance of His divine insight into the lives and characters of men, like that shown in the case of the woman of Samaria (John 4:18).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek Forγὰρ(gar)Conjunction
Strong's 1063:For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.they allπάντες(pantes)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.contributedἔβαλον(ebalon)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 906:(a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.out ofἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.theirαὐτοῖς(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.surplus,περισσεύοντος(perisseuontos)Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4052:From perissos; to superabound, be in excess, be superfluous; also to cause to superabound or excel.butδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.sheαὕτη(hautē)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778:This; he, she, it.out ofἐκ(ek)Preposition
Strong's 1537:From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.herαὐτῆς(autēs)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 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.povertyὑστερήσεως(hysterēseōs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5304:Poverty, want, need. A falling short, i.e., penury.has put [in]ἔβαλεν(ebalen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 906:(a) I cast, throw, rush, (b) often, in the weaker sense: I place, put, drop. A primary verb; to throw.allπάντα(panta)Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.she hadεἶχεν(eichen)Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192:To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.to live on.”βίον(bion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 979:A primary word; life, i.e. the present state of existence; by implication, the means of livelihood.
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NT Gospels: Mark 12:44 For they all gave out of their (Mar Mk Mr) |
