Mark 12:16
New International Version
They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

New Living Translation
When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

English Standard Version
And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

Berean Standard Bible
So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

Berean Literal Bible
And they brought it, and He says to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's."

King James Bible
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

New King James Version
So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

New American Standard Bible
And they brought one. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

NASB 1995
They brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

NASB 1977
And they brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And they brought one. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

Amplified Bible
So they brought one. Then He asked them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

Christian Standard Bible
They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this? ” he asked them. “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they brought one. “Whose image and inscription is this?” He asked them.” Caesar’s,” they said.

American Standard Version
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, C�sar's.

Contemporary English Version
They brought him a silver coin, and he asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?" "The Emperor's," they answered.

English Revised Version
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They brought a coin. He said to them, "Whose face and name is this?" They told him, "The emperor's."

Good News Translation
They brought him one, and he asked, "Whose face and name are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered.

International Standard Version
So they brought one. Then he asked them, "Whose face and name are on this?" They told him, "Caesar's."

Majority Standard Bible
So they brought it, and He asked them, ?Whose image is this? And whose inscription?? ?Caesar?s,? they answered.

NET Bible
So they brought one, and he said to them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's."

New Heart English Bible
They brought it. He said to them, "Whose is this image and inscription?" They said to him, "Caesar's."

Webster's Bible Translation
And they brought it: and he saith to them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said to him, Cesar's.

Weymouth New Testament
They brought one; and He asked them, "Whose is this likeness and this inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.

World English Bible
They brought it. He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they brought, and He says to them, “Whose [is] this image, and the inscription?” And they said to Him, “Caesar’s”;

Berean Literal Bible
And they brought it, and He says to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's."

Young's Literal Translation
and they brought, and he saith to them, 'Whose is this image, and the inscription?' and they said to him, 'Caesar's;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they brought. And he says to them, Whose is this image and inscription? And they said to him, Caesar's.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they brought it him. And he saith to them: Whose is this image and inscription? They say to him, Caesar's.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they brought it to him. And he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.”

New American Bible
They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.”

New Revised Standard Version
And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they brought it to him. He said to them, Whose is this image and inscription? They said, Caesar’s.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they brought it; he said to them: “Whose is this image and writing?” They said, “Caesar's.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
They brought it; and he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this? They said to him: Caesar's.

Godbey New Testament
And they brought it. And He says to them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they say to Him, Caesar's.

Haweis New Testament
And they brought it. And he said unto them, Whose figure and inscription is this? they say unto him, C�sar?s.

Mace New Testament
let me see a penny, and when they brought it, he asked them, whose image and inscription is this? they said, Cesar's.

Weymouth New Testament
They brought one; and He asked them, "Whose is this likeness and this inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.

Worrell New Testament
And they brought it. And He saith to them, "Whose is this image and inscription?" And they said to Him, "Caesar's."

Worsley New Testament
So they brought one: and He saith to them, Whose is this image and inscription? And they said Cesar's.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paying Taxes to Caesar
15But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” 16So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. 17Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.…

Cross References
Matthew 22:19-21
Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. / “Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” / “Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Luke 20:24-25
“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. / So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Romans 13:7
Pay 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 2:13-17
Submit 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. ...

Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

Ecclesiastes 8:2
Keep the king’s command, I say, because of your oath before God.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Romans 13:1-2
Everyone 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.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— / for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.

Daniel 3:16-18
Shadrach, 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 6:10
Now 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.

Exodus 20:3
You shall have no other gods before Me.

Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.

Isaiah 45:1
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:

Isaiah 45:9
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?


Treasury of Scripture

And they brought it. And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said to him, Caesar's.

image.

Matthew 22:19-22
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny…

Luke 20:24-26
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's…

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

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Caesar's Cesar's Coin Image Inscription Likeness Portrait Superscription
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Caesar's Cesar's Coin Image Inscription Likeness Portrait Superscription
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.














So they brought it
This phrase indicates the obedience of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus' request. The act of bringing the coin demonstrates their willingness to engage in dialogue, albeit with ulterior motives. The Greek word for "brought" is "φέρω" (pherō), which can also mean to carry or bear. This action sets the stage for a profound teaching moment, highlighting the importance of physical objects in conveying spiritual truths.

and He asked them
Jesus' method of teaching often involved asking questions, a technique that encourages reflection and self-examination. The Greek word "ἐρωτάω" (erōtaō) implies a form of questioning that seeks to draw out deeper understanding. This approach is consistent with rabbinic teaching methods of the time, where questions were used to lead students to discover truths for themselves.

Whose image is this?
The word "image" in Greek is "εἰκών" (eikōn), which refers to a likeness or representation. This term is significant in biblical theology, as it echoes the concept of humanity being made in the "image of God" (Genesis 1:27). In this context, Jesus is drawing attention to the authority and ownership represented by the image on the coin, which is Caesar's. This question challenges the listeners to consider the broader implications of allegiance and identity.

And whose inscription?
The term "inscription" comes from the Greek "ἐπιγραφή" (epigraphē), meaning a written engraving or title. In the Roman world, coins often bore inscriptions that declared the emperor's titles and divine status. By asking about the inscription, Jesus is prompting His audience to recognize the political and religious claims associated with the currency. This question not only addresses the issue of taxation but also invites reflection on the nature of authority and the distinction between earthly and divine rule.

(16) Superscription.--Better, inscription, as in Matthew 22:20.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[So]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they brought [it],
ἤνεγκαν (ēnenkan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5342: To carry, bear, bring; I conduct, lead; perhaps: I make publicly known. A primary verb.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

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

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.

“Whose
Τίνος (Tinos)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

likeness
εἰκὼν (eikōn)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1504: An image, likeness, bust. From eiko; a likeness, i.e. statue, profile, or representation, resemblance.

[is] this?
αὕτη (hautē)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

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

inscription?”
ἐπιγραφή (epigraphē)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1923: An inscription, title, label. From epigrapho; an inscription.

“Caesar’s,”
Καίσαρος (Kaisaros)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2541: Of Latin origin; Caesar, a title of the Roman emperor.

they answered.
εἶπαν (eipan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.


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