Bible Strands
Mark 12:16
So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the religious leaders who just presented a denarius after he exposed their hypocrisy and commanded them to inspect the coin.
The words — The Greek τίνος (tinos) literally means "of whom," isolating the question to the owner of the coin's stamped image and inscription.
The thread — This dialogue mirrors the tax coin inquiry in Matthew 22:19 and Luke 20:24, while the underlying theme of divine ownership aligns with the seal description in 2 Timothy 2:19.
Why it lands — The text records the factual answer "Caesar's" before Jesus issues his command, requiring the reader to separate civic duty from ultimate allegiance without conflating the two.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.
Cross-references
- Matthew 22:19 Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius.
- Luke 20:24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
- Revelation 3:12 The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.