Bible Strands
Mark 12:37
David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the large crowd and religious teachers in the temple courts, posing a rhetorical question about the Messiah’s identity immediately after quoting Psalm 110:1.
The words — The Greek αὐτὸς (autos) and κύριον (kurion) translate literally to “Himself” and “Lord,” establishing that David attributes sovereign authority to the figure he addresses.
The thread — The text links Davidic descent and divine status in Romans 1:3, which notes His lineage according to the flesh, and Matthew 1:23, which identifies Him as Immanuel.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that the Messiah transcends mere human ancestry, requiring listeners to accept His supreme authority rather than reduce Him to a political descendant.
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
David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Cross-references
- Romans 1:3 regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,
- Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).
- Matthew 11:5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
- Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
- Matthew 21:46 Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.
- Luke 19:48 Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.
- Luke 21:38 And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.
- John 7:46 “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.
- John 12:9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews learned that Jesus was there. And they came not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
- Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.