Bible Strands
Mark 12:17
Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the questioners who just identified Caesar’s image and inscription on the coin they brought to Him.
The words — ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis) = answering and εἶπεν (eipen) = said frame the direct response to their identification of the denarius.
The thread — The obligation to render what is due to earthly authority appears in Romans 13:7, with related themes of conviction and Christ’s compelling love in 1 Corinthians 14:24 and 2 Corinthians 5:14.
Why it lands — The text commands giving to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s, and notes that the listeners marveled at Him. It asks the reader to recognize distinct, non-overlapping obligations to civil authority and divine authority without conflating them.
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 Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Cross-references
- Romans 13:7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
- 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
- 2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
- 1 Peter 2:17 Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
- Job 5:12 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
- Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
- Matthew 22:22 And when they heard this, they were amazed. So they left Him and went away.
- Matthew 22:46 No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further.
- Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow.