Keraia
Mark 12

Mark 12:41

The Widow’s Offering · Mark 12:41–44
Read Mark 12

Translations

Modern
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.
Traditional
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
Literal
And having sat down opposite the treasury, He was watching how the crowd casts money into the treasury; and many rich ones were casting in much.
Latin
Et sedens Jesus contra gazophylacium, aspiciebat quomodo turba jactaret æs in gazophylacium, et multi divites jactabant multa.

Original

Greek
English
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.

Notes

Mark 12:41–42

The word treasury can refer to a building in the temple area where they stored temple money. Here, it refers to one of thirteen money chests into which gifts were placed.

As Jesus watched, many rich people put in large amounts. Then, he noticed one poor widow who put in two small copper coins. (The Roman term quadrans suggests Mark wrote his Gospel for the church in Rome; see Mark Book Introduction, “Audience.”) These two coins were worth only one sixty-fourth of a denarius, which was a normal day’s pay (Matthew 20:1–2).

Mark 12:41–44

This story about a poor widow shows the difference between the religious leaders who were not sincere and those who truly love God (12:38–40). The focus of the passage is on the statement from Jesus, Truly I tell you, where the widow is said to have given more than the rich people.

Theme notes and profiles

Christian Giving Concern for the Poor

Events

Parallels

Luke 21:1–4

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Mark, Gospel of Temple

Topics

Brass: Articles Made of Money Copper Brass: Coined fMoney Gates of the Temple: The Treasury Placed At Money: Copper Used As Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Jesus Teaches In Temple: Herod the Great's Temple: Treasury of Treasure-Houses: Solomon's Temple Used For Widow: The Woman Who Gave Two Mites (Leptas) in the Temple Courtyard Women: The Widow Who Put Her Two Mite (Small Coins, Greek: Leptas) Into the Treasury