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MRK 11:15-19

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

15And they came to Jerusalem. And entering the temple complex, Jesus began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple complex, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

16And he would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

17And he was teaching and saying to them, "Is it not written: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of violent robbers."

18And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking how to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

19And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, the Jerusalem Temple was not only a religious center but also a bustling economic hub. The outer court, known as the Court of the Gentiles, was where money changers and sellers operated, facilitating the exchange of Roman or foreign currency into Tyrian shekels, the only currency accepted for the temple tax. This practice, while practical, often involved exploitative fees, turning a sacred space into a marketplace. The selling of doves, essential for the sacrifices of the poor, further commercialized worship. Jesus’ actions—overturning tables and driving out traders—were a direct challenge to this system. His citation of Isaiah 56:7, emphasizing the temple as a 'house of prayer for all nations' , highlighted the exclusion of Gentiles from meaningful worship due to the commercial activity in their designated space. The accusation of the temple becoming a 'den of robbers' likely carried political undertones, as could also refer to insurrectionists, suggesting systemic corruption. The chief priests and scribes, who benefited from this arrangement, saw Jesus’ actions as a threat to their authority and the temple’s economic order.

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How other translations render this

MRK 11:15

KJV
And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
BSB
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
Koinōnos
And they came to Jerusalem. And entering the temple complex, Jesus began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple complex, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

MRK 11:16

KJV
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
BSB
And He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.
Koinōnos
And he would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.

MRK 11:17

KJV
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
BSB
Then Jesus began to teach them, and He declared, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Koinōnos
And he was teaching and saying to them, "Is it not written: 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of violent robbers.

MRK 11:18

KJV
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
BSB
When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
Koinōnos
And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking how to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.

MRK 11:19

KJV
And when even was come, he went out of the city.
BSB
And when evening came, Jesus and His disciples went out of the city.
Koinōnos
And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MRK 11:15

  • into:The word translated 'temple' here refers specifically to the entire temple complex, including its outer courts, not just the sanctuary building itself.
  • tables:The word translated 'tables' is specifically associated with money-changers, indicating their role in exchanging foreign currency for temple coinage.

MRK 11:17

  • nations’?:The word translated 'nations' often refers to non-Jewish peoples, or Gentiles, highlighting the universal scope of God's house.
  • of robbers.’:The word translated 'robbers' could also imply violent revolutionaries or bandits, not just common thieves, suggesting a more aggressive and disruptive presence.