Mark 11:32

Good News Translation

But if we say, ‘From human beings …'" (They were afraid of the people, because everyone was convinced that John had been a prophet.)

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But if we say, ‘Of human origin’”—they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was truly a prophet.

King James Version (1611)
But if we shall say, Of men, they feared the people: for all men counted Iohn, that he was a Prophet indeed.

King James Version
But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

English Standard Version
But shall we say, ‘From man'?"—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.

New American Standard Bible
"But should we say, 'From men'?"—they were afraid of the people, for they all considered John to have been a real prophet.

New Century Version
But if we say, ‘It was from other people,' the crowd will be against us." (These leaders were afraid of the people, because all the people believed that John was a prophet.)

Amplified Bible
"But shall we say, 'From men?'" —they were afraid [to answer because] of the crowd, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But shall we say, 'From men'?"—they were afraid of the people, for everyone considered John to have been a real prophet.

Legacy Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men'?"—they were afraid of the crowd, for everyone was regarding John to have been a real prophet.

Berean Standard Bible
But if we say, 'From men'..." they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.

Contemporary English Version
On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet. So we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize." They were afraid of the crowd

Complete Jewish Bible
But if we say, ‘From a human source, . . . '" — they were afraid of the people, for they all regarded Yochanan as a genuine prophet.

Darby Translation
but should we say, Of men—they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet.

Easy-to-Read Version
But we can't say that John's baptism was from someone else." (These leaders were afraid of the people, because the people believed that John was a prophet.)

Geneva Bible (1587)
But if we say, Of men, we feare the people: for all men counted Iohn, that he was a Prophet in deede.

George Lamsa Translation
And if we should say, from men, there is the fear of the people, for all of them regard John as a true prophet.

Lexham English Bible
But if we say, ‘From men'"—they were afraid of the crowd, because they all looked upon John as truly a prophet.

Literal Translation
But if we say, From men, they feared the people. For all held that John really was a prophet.

American Standard Version
But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

Bible in Basic English
But if we say, From men--they were in fear of the people, because all took John to be truly a prophet.

Hebrew Names Version
If we should say, 'From men'"--they feared the people, for all held Yochanan to really be a prophet.

International Standard Version
But if we say, 'From humans'?" For they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet.Matthew 3:5; 14:5; Mark 6:20;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And if we should say, From the sons of man, there is fear from the people; for all have held Juchanon that he was truly a prophet.

Murdock Translation
But if we should say, From men; there is fear from the people; for they have all held John to be truly a prophet.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But yf we shal say, of men, we feare the people. For all men counted Iohn, that he was a very prophete.

English Revised Version
But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

World English Bible
If we should say, 'From men'"--they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But if we say, of men: they feared the people; for all accounted John, that he was indeed a prophet.

Weymouth's New Testament
Or should we say, `human?'" They were afraid of the people; for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
if we seien of men, we dreden the puple; for alle men hadden Joon, that he was verili a prophete.

Update Bible Version
But should we say, From men-they feared the people: for all truly held John to be a prophet.

Webster's Bible Translation
But if we shall say, from men; they feared the people: for all [men] counted John that he was a prophet indeed.

New English Translation
But if we say, ‘From people—'" (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).

New King James Version
But if we say, "From men"'--they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

New Living Translation
But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet.

New Life Bible
But how can we say, ‘From men'?" They were afraid of the people because everyone believed that John was one who spoke for God.

New Revised Standard
But shall we say, ‘Of human origin'?"—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, should we say, Of men…, they were in fear of the multitude, for, one and all, were holding John, in very deed, that he was, a prophet.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If we say, From men, we fear the people. For all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed.

Revised Standard Version
But shall we say, 'From men'?" --they were afraid of the people, for all held that John was a real prophet.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
but if we shall saye of me: then feare we ye people. For all men counted Iohn that he was a verie Prophete.

Young's Literal Translation
But if we may say, From men,' -- they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf we saye: It was of men, then feare we the people, for they all helde that Ihon was a true prophet.

Mace New Testament (1729)
if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.)

Simplified Cowboy Version
But if we say it was just his own idea, all these people will get mad because they believe John was a true cowboy of God."

Contextual Overview

²⁷ They arrived once again in Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders came to him ²⁸ and asked him, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you such right?" ²⁹ Jesus answered them, "I will ask you just one question, and if you give me an answer, I will tell you what right I have to do these things. ³⁰ Tell me, where did John's right to baptize come from: was it from God or from human beings?" ³¹ They started to argue among themselves: "What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,' he will say, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?' ³² But if we say, ‘From human beings …'" (They were afraid of the people, because everyone was convinced that John had been a prophet.) ³³ So their answer to Jesus was, "We don't know." Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they: Mark 6:20, Mark 12:12, Matthew 14:5, Matthew 21:46, Luke 20:19, Luke 22:2, Acts 5:26

for: Matthew 3:5, Matthew 3:6, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32, Luke 7:26-29, Luke 20:6-8, John 10:41

Reciprocal: Matthew 21:26 - we fear Mark 11:18 - feared Mark 14:2 - lest Luke 1:76 - shalt be

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But if we shall say, of men,.... That John's baptism was an human invention, and he had no authority from God to preach and administer it,

they feared the people; lest being enraged thereby they should, at once, rise up, and destroy them:

for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed; a real prophet, one truly sent from God, and had his commission and credentials from him: this was the general sentiment of the people;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Mark 11:32. They feared the people — Or rather, We fear, c. Instead of εφοβουντο, they feared the Codex Bezae, seven others, later Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala, read φοβουμεν, or φοβουμεθα. The common reading appearing to me quite improper.

WE fear the people. εαν, if, before ειπωμεν, we shall say, is omitted by ABCEFGHLS, and more than fifty others. Bengel leaves it out of the text, and puts a note of interrogation after εξ ανθρωπων; and then the whole passage reads thus: But shall we say, Of men? They feared the people, c. This change renders the adoption of φοβουμεν, we fear, unnecessary. Several critics prefer this mode of distinguishing the text. However the critics may be puzzled with the text, the scribes, chief priests, and elders were worse puzzled with our Lord's question. They must convict themselves or tell a most palpable falsehood. - They told the lie, and so escaped for the present.

1. ENVY, malice, and double dealing have always a difficult part to act, and are ultimately confounded by their own projects and ruined by their own operations. On the other hand, simplicity and sincerity are not obliged to use a mask, but always walk in a plain way.

2. The case of the barren fig-tree which our Lord cursed has been pitifully misunderstood and misapplied. The whole account of this transaction, as stated above, I believe to be correct it is so much in our Lord's usual manner that the propriety of it will scarcely be doubted. He was ever acting the part of the philosopher, moralist, and divine, as well as that of the Saviour of sinners. In his hand, every providential occurrence and every object of nature, became a means of instruction: the stones of the desert, the lilies of the field, the fowls of heaven, the beasts of the forest, fruitful and unfruitful trees, with every ordinary occurrence, were so many grand texts, from which he preached the most illuminating and impressive sermons, for the instruction and salvation of his audience. This wisdom and condescension cannot be sufficiently admired. But shall the example of the fruitless fig tree be lost on us as well as on the Jews? God forbid! Let us therefore take heed, lest having been so long unfruitful, God should say, Let no fruit appear on thee hereafter for ever! and in consequence of this, we wither and die away! Mark 11:27.