Devine Scripture

Mark 12:7

What does Mark 12:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 12:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 12:7 means

Rather than reverencing the son, the vineyard tenants conspiratorially plot to kill him, believing that his death would secure their inheritance and permanent control of the vineyard. This chilling intent directly foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the Jewish religious leaders. They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and sought to eliminate Him, thinking they could thereby maintain their power and control over God's \"vineyard,\" Israel, without the true heir. Their motivation was greed and a desire for independence from the rightful owner.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But those workmen said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death, and the heritage will be ours.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and those husbandmen said among themselves--This is the heir, come, we may kill him, and ours shall be the inheritance;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But the husbandmen said one to another: This is the heir. Come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But those husbandmen said to one another, This is the heir: come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours.

Context

This verse reveals the climactic evil of the wicked husbandmen, directly following the owner’s ultimate act of vulnerability in sending his son. Their self-serving desire to kill the heir to claim the inheritance is the turning point of the parable. This immediate decision to murder the son drives the narrative to its tragic conclusion and unveils the profound wickedness of those entrusted with God's vineyard.

v.6He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.

v.7This passage

v.8And they took him, and killed him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 2:3

    And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

  • Isaiah 53:7

    He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.

  • Matthew 2:16

    Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.

  • Acts 2:23

    him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:

  • John 11:47

    The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.

  • Psalms 2:2

    The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,

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