Mark 11 17

Mark 11:17 kjv

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:17 nkjv

Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

Mark 11:17 niv

And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Mark 11:17 esv

And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."

Mark 11:17 nlt

He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves."

Mark 11 verses

Mark 11 17 Meaning

In Mark 11:17, Jesus articulates the fundamental purpose of the Temple as a sanctuary for prayer intended for all peoples, while simultaneously condemning its current desecration by those who have transformed it into a place of financial exploitation and corruption. This verse reveals His divine authority to reclaim God's sacred space from misuse, re-establishing its true spiritual function for worship and communion with the Almighty.

Mark 11 17 Context

Mark 11:17 is embedded within the climactic events of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem. The verse immediately follows Jesus' actions of overturning tables in the Temple courts (Mark 11:15-16), a dramatic demonstration known as the cleansing of the Temple. This event directly challenges the religious authorities' administration of the Temple. It is bookended by the cursing of the fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25), a symbolic act of judgment against unfruitfulness and hypocrisy, further emphasizing God's impending judgment on an unproductive religious system. Historically, the Temple at the time of Jesus was a bustling economic hub where money changers and vendors operated, catering to pilgrims for sacrifices. While these services were necessary, their location in the Court of the Gentiles, and the exploitative prices charged, desecrated the one place where non-Jews could draw near to God. Jesus' words are a powerful declaration of the Temple's true spiritual identity against the backdrop of systemic religious and financial corruption.

Mark 11 17 Word analysis

• And he taught (καὶ ἐδίδασκεν - kai edidasken): The imperfect tense signifies a continuous or habitual action, suggesting Jesus not only performed a deed but also systematically explained its significance. This highlights His role as an authoritative teacher who reveals truth.
• saying to them: Directly addressing the crowds, potentially including those who had been buying and selling, and the religious authorities. It indicates a public declaration, not a private one.
• "Is it not written (Οὐ γέγραπται - Ou gegraptai)?": A rhetorical question appealing to common knowledge of Scripture. "It is written" (γέγραπται - gegraptai) is a perfect passive participle, emphasizing that what God has written stands as eternal truth. Jesus cites prophetic words from Isa 56:7, underscoring that His actions align with divine decree and long-standing prophecy, not personal whim.
• 'My house (ὁ οἶκός μου - ho oikos mou)': Refers to the Temple, claiming divine ownership. "My" unequivocally signifies God's ownership, aligning with the "LORD of hosts" in Isa 56:7. The Temple is not man's possession to exploit, but God's.
• 'shall be called (κληθήσεται - klēthēsetai)': A future passive verb, emphasizing that this is its inherent, destined identity given by God, not merely a descriptive title given by men. Its fundamental nature is ordained.
• 'a house of prayer (οἶκος προσευχῆς - oikos proseuchēs)': The primary, God-intended purpose of the Temple. Proseuchē denotes fervent petition, worship, and communication with God. It emphasizes direct, unhindered access to the divine through communion.
• 'for all nations (πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν - pasin tois ethnesin)': A crucial and often overlooked phrase from Isa 56:7. This explicitly declares the universal scope of the Temple's purpose—not just for Israel, but for all ethnic groups/Gentiles. The corruption occurred specifically in the Court of the Gentiles, obstructing their designated place of worship, revealing a profound injustice.
• "But you (ὑμεῖς δέ - hymeis de)": A sharp, direct contrast, placing responsibility squarely on those present, particularly the religious authorities. "You" implies active involvement in the distortion.
• "have made it (ἐποιήσατε - epoēsate)": The verb means "to do, to make, to create." It indicates deliberate action and transformation, a fundamental altering of the Temple's divine purpose by human intervention.
• "a 'den of robbers' (σπήλαιον λῃστῶν - spēlaion lēstōn)": A direct quote from Jer 7:11. A spēlaion is a cave or lair, often used by bandits. Lēstēs (robber, bandit) implies not just common thieves but often violent revolutionaries or extortionists. The imagery evokes a place of illicit gain, where spiritual sanctity is replaced by exploitation, and people are robbed of their right to truly worship, often by extortionate prices for sacrifices or manipulative practices, turning God's holy dwelling into a refuge for those engaged in unrighteous activities.

Mark 11 17 Bonus section

• Prophetic Action: Jesus' cleansing of the Temple functions as a powerful, acted-out parable, typical of Old Testament prophets, vividly demonstrating His message through action as much as through words. It was a visible judgment on a corrupted system.
• Challenging Authority: This act was a direct challenge to the authority of the high priestly family who profited from the temple commerce, asserting Jesus' divine authority over the very institution they controlled.
• Inclusion of Gentiles: The specific focus on "for all nations" reveals Jesus' overarching mission to bridge the gap between Jew and Gentile, paving the way for the inclusive New Covenant worship. The corruption in the Temple particularly offended this aspect of God's design.
• Substitutionary Temple: Jesus' prophetic declaration and action implicitly point to His own body as the new and true Temple (Jn 2:19-21), through whom genuine access to God's presence is made available to all believers.
• Judgment Foreshadowed: The cleansing prefigures God's impending judgment upon Jerusalem and the Temple itself for their rejection of His true purpose and His Messiah.

Mark 11 17 Commentary

Mark 11:17 encapsulates Jesus' fervent declaration regarding the integrity and purpose of God's house. By citing Isaiah 56:7, Jesus emphasizes the Temple's intended identity as a global hub of worship, where people from all nations could connect with the Living God. The placement of market activity in the outer Court of the Gentiles, combined with exploitative practices, physically blocked non-Jews' access and distorted the Temple's universal mandate. This transformed a sanctuary into a commercial center focused on personal gain rather than divine communion.

His citation of Jeremiah 7:11, "a den of robbers," highlights not merely a petty theft but a systemic corruption and exploitation disguised as religious service. Like bandits using a cave as a hideout for their ill-gotten gains, those in the Temple were using their religious authority and the sacred space itself as a cover for economic and spiritual exploitation. This desecration of a sacred space for personal profit was an affront to God's holiness and His plan for humanity's access to Him. Jesus' actions and words constituted a prophetic act, purifying God's house and pointing towards the New Covenant, where the barriers between people and God are removed through Him, and access to God's presence is offered to all who believe. His zeal signifies that true worship demands righteousness and accessibility for everyone, challenging hypocrisy and upholding the true spiritual function of God's dwelling.