Bible Strands
Mark 12:42
Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mark 12:41-43 places Jesus opposite the temple treasury observing donors before turning to His disciples to explain the widow’s action. The moment occurs during His final week in Jerusalem, shifting focus from public religious display to private instruction on sacrificial giving.
The words — The Greek ἔβαλεν (ebalen) translates literally as “she cast in,” and λεπτὰ (lepta) names the smallest copper coins in circulation. These terms anchor the narrative in a physical transaction of minimal monetary value.
The thread — The parallel account in Luke 21:1-4 repeats the treasury scene and Jesus’ evaluation of the gift. The pattern of disproportionate contribution relative to means echoes the widow’s oil narrative in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
Why it lands — The text records a destitute woman surrendering two coins that equaled a fraction of a denarius, establishing a concrete measure of giving. It requires readers to assess devotion by the ratio of what is relinquished rather than the visible size of the offering.
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 there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.