Devine Scripture

Mark 14:57

What does Mark 14:57 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 14:57 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 14:57 means

Some stand up and falsely testify against Jesus. Their boldness underscores the hostility and determination to convict Him by any means. Standing up suggests formality and confidence, yet their testimony remains false. This verse shows the escalation from general failure to a specific, fabricated charge. Human courts can be stacked, but truth remains elusive to those resisting it. The Lord, who is truth, stands silent as falsehood parades before Him, bearing witness to His patience and to the inevitability of His suffering according to God’s plan.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then some got up and gave false witness against him, saying,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And certain having risen up, were bearing false testimony against him, saying--

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And some rising up, bore false witness against him, saying:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And certain persons rose up and bore false witness against him, saying,

Context

After noting many inconsistent witnesses, Mark highlights a subset who step forward with a particular accusation. This prepares for their claim about Jesus and the temple in the next verse. The court’s strategy narrows: if they cannot secure general charges, they will latch onto misunderstood words about the temple. This narrowing brings the scene closer to the high priest’s intervention when contradictions persist, and Jesus’ silence will be broken by a direct question about His identity.

v.56For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together.

v.57This passage

v.58We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 26:18

    Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

  • John 2:18

    The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

  • Matthew 27:40

    and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.

  • Acts 6:13

    and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:

  • Mark 15:29

    And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,

  • Jeremiah 26:8

    And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

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