Devine Scripture

Mark 11:30

What does Mark 11:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 11:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 11:30 means

Jesus's counter-question to the religious leaders was about the baptism of John: "was it from heaven, or from men?" This question presented them with a dilemma. They had themselves received John's baptism, and he was widely considered a prophet. Acknowledging John's divine authority would implicitly validate Jesus, as John had testified about Him. Denying John's divine authority risked alienating the people.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? give me an answer.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

the baptism of John--from heaven was it? or from men? answer me.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The baptism of John, was it of heaven, or of men? answer me.

Context

This verse presents Jesus's direct counter-question to the religious leaders, following His promise to answer their authority question if they answered His (verse 29). This pointed inquiry about John the Baptist creates a profound dilemma for them, immediately leading to their internal deliberation and revealing their true motivations in the verses that follow.

v.29And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

v.30This passage

v.31And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 3:25

    There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying.

  • Mark 9:13

    But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would, even as it is written of him.

  • Matthew 3:1

    And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,

  • Mark 1:1

    The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

  • John 1:15

    John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.

  • Luke 3:1

    Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

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