Mark 12 · Verse 37

Mark 12:37

David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Mark 12:37, King James Version

Mark 12:37 in other translations

BSBDavid himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
WEBTherefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.
ASVDavid himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
YLTtherefore David himself saith of him Lord, and whence is he his son?' And the great multitude were hearing him gladly,
DARBYDavid himself therefore calls him Lord, and whence is he his son? And the mass of the people heard him gladly.
BBEDavid himself gives him the name of Lord; and how then is he his son? And the common people gave ear to him gladly.
WebsterDavid therefore himself calleth him Lord, and whence is he then his son? and the common people heard him gladly.

What does Mark 12:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son?--There is but one solution of this difficulty. Messiah is at once inferior to David as his son according to the flesh, and superior to him as the Lord of a kingdom of which David is himself a subject, not the sovereign. The human and divine natures of Christ, and the spirituality of His kingdom--of which the highest earthly sovereigns are honored if they be counted worthy to be its subjects--furnish the only key to this puzzle. And the common people--the immense crowd. heard him gladly--"And no man was able to answer Him a word; neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions" (Mt 22:46). The Scribes Denounced (Mr 12:38-40).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37. The common people heard him gladly. The success of our Saviour in his preaching was chiefly among the common or the poorer class of people. The rich and the mighty were too proud to listen to his instructions. So it is still. The chief success of the gospel is there, and there it pours down its chief blessings. This is not the fault of the gospel. It would bless the rich and the mighty as well as the poor, if they came with like humble hearts. God knows no distinctions of men in conferring his favours; and wherever there is a poor, contrite, and humble spirit--be it clothed in rags or in purple--be it on a throne or a dunghill--there he confers the blessings of salvation.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 The common people heard him gladly - And were doubtless many of them brought to believe and receive the truth. By the comparatively poor the Gospel is still best received.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 12:35-40

When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.

Read the full comment on Mark 12:35-40 →

Mark 12:37 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.

αὐτὸςautosHimselfG846
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ΔαυὶδDauidDavidG1138
λέγειlegeinamesG3004
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
κύριον,kurionLord,G2962
καὶkaithenG2532
πόθενpothenhowG4159
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
ἐστινestinis HeG1510
υἱός;huiosson?G5207
καὶkaiAndG2532
ὁhotheG3588
πολὺςpolusgreatG4183
ὄχλοςochloscrowdG3793
ἤκουενēkouenwas listeningG191
αὐτοῦautouto HimG846
ἡδέως.¶hēdeōsgladly.G2234

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

Cross references for Mark 12:37

  • Romans 1:3-4

    Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

  • Luke 21:38

    And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

  • Matthew 11:25

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

  • Romans 9:5

    Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

  • James 2:5

    Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

  • Matthew 11:5

    The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • John 7:46-49

    The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

  • John 12:9

    Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

  • Matthew 21:46

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

  • Luke 19:48

    And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and whence.
Mt 1:23; Ro 1:3,4; 9:5; 1Ti 3:16; Re 22:16
And the.
Mt 11:5,25; 21:46; Lu 19:48; 21:38; Joh 7:46-49; Jas 2:5

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

Context

  • Mark 12:36

    For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Mark 12:37

    David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

  • Mark 12:38

    And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

Read all of Mark 12

Mark 12:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Luego llamándole el mismo David Señor, ¿de dónde, pues, es su hijo? Y los que eran del común del pueblo le oían de buena gana.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		David lui-même donc l’appelle seigneur; et comment est-il son fils? Et la grande foule prenait plaisir à l’entendre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		David selbst also nennt ihn Herr, und woher ist er sein Sohn? -Und die große Menge des Volkes hörte ihn gern.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ipse ergo David dicit eum Dominum, et unde est filius ejus? Et multa turba eum libenter audivit.