Mark 12 · Verse 42

Mark 12:42

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
Mark 12:42, King James Version

Mark 12:42 in other translations

BSBThen one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
WEBA poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin.
ASVAnd there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.
YLTand having come, a poor widow did put in two mites, which are a farthing.
DARBYAnd a poor widow came and cast in two mites, which is a farthing.
BBEAnd there came a poor widow, and she put in two little bits of money, which make a farthing.
WebsterAnd there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

What does Mark 12:42 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 42. Two mites. The word translated mite denotes a small coin made of brass, the smallest in use among the Jews. The precise value cannot now be easily estimated. It was much less than any coin we have, as the farthing was less than an English farthing. It was in value about three mills and a half, or one third of a cent.

(2) "two mites" "7th part of that piece of brass money"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 12:41-44

Let us not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury. He knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He looks at the heart, and what our views are, in giving alms; and whether we do it as unto the Lord, or only to be seen of men. It is so rare to find any who would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find many who will do like to her; and yet our Saviour commends her, therefore we are…

Read the full comment on Mark 12:41-44 →

Mark 12:42 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
ἐλθοῦσαelthousahaving comeG2064
μίαmiaoneG1520
χήραchērawidowG5503
πτωχὴptōchēpoorG4434
ἔβαλενebalenshe cast [in]G906
λεπτὰleptaleptaG3016
δύοduotwoG1417
ὅhowhichG3739
ἐστινestinisG1510
κοδράντης.kodrantēsa kodrantes.G2835

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
two mites."It is the seventh part of one piece of that brass money."
42

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

Context

  • Mark 12:41

    And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

  • Mark 12:42

    And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

  • Mark 12:43

    And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Read all of Mark 12

Mark 12:42 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como vino una viuda pobre, echó dos blancas, que son un maravedí.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et une pauvre veuve vint, et y jeta deux pites, qui font un quadrant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und eine arme Witwe kam und legte zwei Scherflein ein, das ist ein Pfennig.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum venisset autem vidua una pauper, misit duo minuta, quod est quadrans,