Mark 12:44 Meaning and Explanation
“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The rich gave out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty gave all she had, even her whole living.
What Does Mark 12:44 Mean?
Jesus explains the verdict: the rich gave from surplus that cost them nothing they would miss; the widow gave "of her want" -- out of her lack -- and put in everything, her whole means of living. The chapter that began with tenants withholding the owner's fruit ends with a widow withholding nothing.
Her two coins were an act of total trust, tomorrow laid in God's hands. She is the last person Jesus commends in the temple, and within days he will do what she has done -- give all he has, his whole life, for the world. The widow's mites and the cross speak the same language: love holds nothing back.
Mark 12:44 in the Original Language
bios (βίος), 'living' -- livelihood; one's whole means of life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 12:44
What does Mark 12:44 mean?
The rich gave out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty gave all she had, even her whole living.