Mark 12:4
What does Mark 12:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Mark 12:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Mark 12:4 means
Undaunted, the landowner sends another servant, but the tenants inflict even greater injury upon him, wounding him in the head and treating him shamefully. This illustrates God's persistent grace in sending additional prophets, even after the initial rejection, to call His people to repentance and obedience. The increased violence demonstrates the escalating resistance and hardening of hearts among the religious leadership of Israel, who repeatedly scorned and abused God's messengers.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And again he sent to them another servant; and they gave him wounds on the head, and were very cruel to him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And again he sent unto them another servant, and at that one having cast stones, they wounded <FI>him<Fi> in the head, and sent away--dishonoured.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And again he sent to them another servant: and him they wounded in the head and used him reproachfully.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And again he sent to them another bondman; and [at] him they [threw stones, and] struck [him] on the head, and sent [him] away with insult.
Context
Building on the previous verse's rejection of the first servant, this verse shows the tenants' deepening wickedness. It emphasizes the landowner's continued patience despite the abuse. This repeated pattern of sending and harming prepares the reader for the ultimate rejection, creating dramatic tension that highlights the tenants' hardening hearts against the owner and his representatives.
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