Devine Scripture

Mark 12:44

What does Mark 12:44 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 12:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 12:44 means

Jesus explains His assessment by clarifying the difference between the rich givers and the poor widow: the wealthy contributed from their \"superfluity,\" meaning their excess wealth, what they could easily afford to part with without any personal cost. In contrast, the widow, \"of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living.\" Her offering represented a total sacrifice, giving up her very means of survival out of faith and devotion. This highlights that true generosity is measured by the personal cost and sacrifice involved, not by the absolute amount given, distinguishing between giving from abundance and giving from necessity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Because they all put in something out of what they had no need for; but she out of her need put in all she had, even all her living.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for all, out of their abundance, put in, but she, out of her want, all that she had put in--all her living.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

for all have cast in of that which they had in abundance, but she of her destitution has cast in all that she had, the whole of her living.

Context

This verse offers Jesus’s crucial explanation of the principle behind His radical assessment, providing the theological basis for His declaration in the previous verse. It immediately follows His statement that the widow gave more than all the rich. This clear distinction between giving from abundance versus giving from want concludes the lesson on true sacrificial giving, powerfully contrasting with the hypocrisy of the scribes and emphasizing the profound value of wholehearted devotion.

v.43And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury:

v.44This passage

Cross references

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

  • Luke 21:2

    And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

  • Nehemiah 7:70

    And some from among the heads of fathers’ houses gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments.

  • Luke 15:30

    but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:10

    And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.

  • Ezra 2:68

    And some of the heads of fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:

  • Luke 15:12

    and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion ofthy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

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