Mark 11 · Verse 32

Mark 11:32

But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
Mark 11:32, King James Version

Mark 11:32 in other translations

BSBBut if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
WEBIf we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.
ASVBut should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.
YLTBut if we may say, From men,' --they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet;
DARBYbut should we say, Of men — they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet.
BBEBut if we say, From men--they were in fear of the people, because all took John to be truly a prophet.
WebsterBut if we shall say, from men; they feared the people: for all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed.

What does Mark 11:32 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 32.

(k) "for all men counted John" Mt 3:5,6, 14:5, Mk 6:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 32 They feared the people - Or rather, We fear, etc. Instead of εφοβουντο, they feared; the Codex Bezae, seven others, later Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala, read φοβουμεν, or φοβουμεθα. The common reading appearing to me quite improper. We fear the people. Εαν, if, before ειπωμεν, we shall say, is omitted by ABCEFGHLS, and more than fifty others. Bengel leaves it out of the text, and puts a note of interrogation after Εξ ανθρωπων; and then the whole passage reads thus: But shall we say, Of men? They feared the people, etc. This change renders the adoption of φοβουμεν, we fear, unnecessary. Several critics prefer this mode of distinguishing the text. However the critics may be puzzled with the text, the scribes, chief priests, and elders were worse puzzled with our Lord's question. They must convict themselves or tell a most palpable falsehood. - They told the lie, and so escaped for the present. 1. Envy, malice, and double dealing have always a difficult part to act, and are ultimately confounded by their own projects and ruined by their own operations. On the other hand, simplicity and sincerity are not obliged to use a mask, but always walk in a plain way. 2. The case of the barren fig-tree which our Lord cursed has been pitifully misunderstood and misapplied. The whole account of this transaction, as stated above, I believe to be correct; it is so much in our Lord's usual manner that the propriety of it will scarcely be doubted. He was ever acting the part of the philosopher, moralist, and divine, as well as that of the Savior of sinners. In his hand, every providential occurrence and every object of nature, became a means of instruction: the stones of the desert, the lilies of the field, the fowls of heaven, the beasts of the forest, fruitful and unfruitful trees, with every ordinary occurrence, were so many grand texts, from which he preached the most illuminating and impressive sermons, for the instruction and salvation of his audience. This wisdom and condescension cannot be sufficiently admired. But shall the example of the fruitless fig tree be lost on us as well as on the Jews? God forbid! Let us therefore take heed, lest having been so long unfruitful, God should say, Let no fruit appear on thee hereafter for ever! and in consequence of this, we wither and die away! See Clarke on Mar 11:27 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 11:27-33

Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God…

Read the full comment on Mark 11:27-33 →

Mark 11:32 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλ᾽all᾽ButG235
εἴπωμεν·eipōmenshall we say;G2036
ἐξexFromG1537
ἀνθρώπων,anthrōpōnmen’..,G444
ἐφοβοῦντοephobountothey were afraid ofG5399
τὸνtontheG3588
ὄχλον·ochloncrowd;G3793
ἅπαντεςhapantesallG537
γὰρgarforG1063
εἶχονeichonwere holdingG2192
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸωάννηνIōannēnJohnG2491
ὄντωςontōstrulyG3689
ὅτιhotithatG3754
προφήτηςprophētēsa prophetG4396
ἦν.ēnhe was.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 11:32

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Matthew 21:46

    But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

  • Mark 12:12

    And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

  • John 10:41

    And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

  • Matthew 21:31-32

    Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

  • Luke 22:2

    And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

  • Luke 7:26-29

    But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

  • Mark 6:20

    For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

  • Acts 5:26

    Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

  • Luke 20:6-8

    But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

  • Matthew 3:5-6

    Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

  • Luke 20:19

    And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
6:20; 12:12; Mt 14:5; 21:46; Lu 20:19; 22:2; Ac 5:26
for.
Mt 3:5,6; 21:31,32; Lu 7:26-29; 20:6-8; Joh 10:41

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 11:31

    And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

  • Mark 11:32

    But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

  • Mark 11:33

    And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Read all of Mark 11

Mark 11:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si dijéremos, de los hombres, tememos al pueblo: porque todos juzgaban de Juan, que verdaderamente era profeta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais dirions-nous: Des hommes?… ils craignaient le peuple; car tous estimaient que Jean était réellement un prophète.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sagen wir aber: von Menschen sie fürchteten das Volk; denn alle hielten von Johannes, daß er wirklich ein Prophet war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si dixerimus: Ex hominibus, timemus populum: omnes enim habebant Joannem quia vere propheta esset.