Devine Scripture

Mark 11:31

What does Mark 11:31 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 11:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 11:31 means

The religious leaders deliberated among themselves, recognizing the trap inherent in Jesus's question. If they acknowledged John's baptism as being from heaven, Jesus could then logically ask why they had not believed John's testimony about Him. This internal reasoning reveals their fear of Jesus's counter-argument and their concern for consistency and accountability in their own beliefs and actions.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?

Context

Following Jesus's challenging question about John the Baptist in verse 30, this verse describes the religious leaders' internal struggle and recognition of the dilemma. Their reasoning reveals their calculated avoidance of truth and submission to God's will, directly setting up the second undesirable option and their ultimate refusal to answer.

v.30The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

v.31This passage

v.32But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

Cross references

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

  • 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.

  • John 1:29

    On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!

  • John 3:29

    He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.

  • John 1:36

    and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!

  • Matthew 11:7

    And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?

  • Matthew 21:31

    Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

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