Mark 12 · Verse 34

Mark 12:34

And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Mark 12:34, King James Version

Mark 12:34 in other translations

BSBWhen Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
WEBWhen Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.
ASVAnd when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
YLTAnd Jesus, having seen him that he answered with understanding, said to him, ‘Thou art not far from the reign of God;' and no one any more durst question him.
DARBYAnd Jesus, seeing that he had answered intelligently, said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no one dared question him any more.
BBEAnd when Jesus saw that he gave a wise answer, he said to him, You are not far from the kingdom of God. And every man after that was in fear of questioning him any more.
WebsterAnd when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

What does Mark 12:34 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly--rather, "intelligently," or "sensibly"; not only in a good spirit, but with a promising measure of insight into spiritual things. he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God--for he had but to follow out a little further what he seemed sincerely to own, to find his way into the kingdom. He needed only the experience of another eminent scribe who at a later period said, "We know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin": who exclaimed, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me?" but who added, "I thank God through Jesus Christ!" (Ro 7:14, 24, 25). Perhaps among the "great company of the priests" and other Jewish ecclesiastics who "were obedient to the faith," almost immediately after the day of Pentecost (Ac 6:7), this upright lawyer was one. But for all his nearness to the Kingdom of God, it may be he never entered it. And no man after that durst ask any question--all feeling that they were no match for Him, and that it was vain to enter the lists with Him. Christ Baffles the Pharisees Regarding David (Mr 12:35-37).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 34.

(o) "ask him any question" Mt 22:46

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 34 Thou art not far from the kingdom of God - This scribe appears to have been a prudent, sensible, and pious man; almost a Christian - so near the kingdom of God that he might have easily stepped in. It is very probable that he did at last believe in and confess Jesus.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 12:28-34

Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The…

Read the full comment on Mark 12:28-34 →

Mark 12:34 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ἰδὼνidōnhaving seenG1492
αὐτὸνautonhimG846
ὅτιhotithatG3754
νουνεχῶςnounechōswiselyG3562
ἀπεκρίθηapekrithēhe answeredG611
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτῷ·autōto him;G846
οὐouNotG3756
μακρὰνmakranfarG3112
εἶeiare youG1510
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῆςtēstheG3588
βασιλείαςbasileiaskingdomG932
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316
καὶkaiAndG2532
οὐδεὶςoudeisno [one]G3762
οὐκέτιouketino longerG3756
ἐτόλμαetolmawas daringG5111
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἐπερωτῆσαι.¶eperōtēsaito question.G1905

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

Cross references for Mark 12:34

  • Colossians 4:6

    Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

  • Luke 20:40

    And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

  • Matthew 22:46

    And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

  • Titus 1:9-11

    Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

  • Matthew 12:20

    A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

  • Romans 3:19-20

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

  • Galatians 2:19

    For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

  • Job 32:15-16

    They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)

  • Romans 7:9

    For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Thou.
Mt 12:20; Ro 3:20; 7:9; Ga 2:19
And no.
Job 32:15,16; Mt 22:46; Lu 20:40; Ro 3:19; Col 4:6; Tit 1:9-11

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

Context

  • Mark 12:33

    And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

  • Mark 12:34

    And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

  • Mark 12:35

    And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

Read all of Mark 12

Mark 12:34 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Jesús entonces, viendo que había respondido sabiamente, le dice: No estás lejos del reino de Dios. Y ya ninguno osaba preguntarle.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jésus, voyant qu’il avait répondu avec intelligence, lui dit: Tu n’es pas loin du royaume de Dieu. Et personne n’osait plus l’interroger.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als Jesus sah, daß er verständig geantwortet hatte, sprach er zu ihm: Du bist nicht fern vom Reiche Gottes. Und hinfort wagte niemand ihn zu befragen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Jesus autem videns quod sapienter respondisset, dixit illi: Non es longe a regno Dei. Et nemo jam audebat eum interrogare.