Mark 12:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →They bring a coin, and Jesus asks whose image and inscription it bears. They answer: Caesar's.
What Does Mark 12:16 Mean?
A denarius of that day carried the emperor's portrait and an inscription proclaiming his titles. Jesus makes his questioners do the looking and the answering. The coin visibly belongs to Caesar's world -- his face, his name, his mint.
The question "whose image?" reaches further than the coin. Scripture's first answer to it stands in Genesis 1:27: humanity is made in the image of God. The coin bears Caesar's likeness and may go back to Caesar; the human being bears God's likeness and belongs, whole and entire, to God. Jesus is preparing a verdict that weighs far more than tax policy.
Mark 12:16 in the Original Language
eikon (εἰκών), 'image' -- likeness; the same word used of humanity created in the image of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 12:16
What does Mark 12:16 mean?
They bring a coin, and Jesus asks whose image and inscription it bears. They answer: Caesar's.