Devine Scripture

Mark 15:12

What does Mark 15:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 15:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 15:12 means

Pilate again asks the crowd what they want done with Jesus, using their own title for him. His repeated question exposes the responsibility being placed on them. By asking “What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?” Pilate underscores the injustice: the man they proudly call king is now under their judgment. It’s a legal formality and a moral test, one the crowd answers with a cry for death, aligning themselves with the leaders’ hostility.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And Pilate again said in answer to them, What then am I to do to him to whom you give the name of the King of the Jews?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And Pilate answering, again said to them, `What, then, will ye <FI>that<Fi> I shall do to him whom ye call king of the Jews?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And Pilate again answering, saith to them: What will you then that I do to the king of the Jews?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And Pilate answering said to them again, What will ye then that I do [to him] whom ye call King of the Jews?

Context

This repeats Pilate’s earlier attempt to transfer the decision to the crowd and to underline the irony of their claim about Jesus. It precedes the crowd’s decisive shout for crucifixion. The verse heightens the drama and accountability: the people must choose, and this choice will propel the remainder of the chapter.

v.11But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

v.12This passage

v.13And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Cross references

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

  • Mark 11:9

    And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

  • Matthew 27:22

    Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.

  • Luke 23:20

    And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus;

  • Proverbs 2:6

    For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:

  • Zechariah 9:9

    Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.

  • Acts 5:31

    Him did God exalt with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

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