Mark 12:32

“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The scribe addresses Jesus as Teacher immediately after Jesus identifies loving God and neighbor as the greatest commandments. He speaks in direct response to Jesus' summary of the law.

The words — The scribe uses καλῶς (kalōs) to mean "correctly," affirming Jesus' statement. He addresses Jesus as διδάσκαλε (didaskale), the direct Greek term for a religious instructor.

The thread — This declaration mirrors the exclusive monotheism of Deuteronomy 4:35 and Deuteronomy 4:39, where Yahweh asserts He alone is God. Isaiah 46:9 similarly grounds this claim by contrasting the true God with all other supposed deities.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to accept Jesus' accurate interpretation of Jewish monotheism before moving to the practical command to love God and neighbor. It demands that the reader acknowledge no rival authority exists alongside God before applying that truth to conduct.

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 the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
Deuteronomy 4:35 You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.
Isaiah 46:9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
Isaiah 45:14 This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
Isaiah 45:18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens—He is God; He formed the earth and fashioned it; He established it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Deuteronomy 5:7 You shall have no other gods before Me.
Isaiah 44:8 Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Jeremiah 10:10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and eternal King. The earth quakes at His wrath, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.