Mark 12 13

Mark 12:13 kjv

And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

Mark 12:13 nkjv

Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.

Mark 12:13 niv

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

Mark 12:13 esv

And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.

Mark 12:13 nlt

Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 13 Meaning

Mark 12:13 initiates a crucial encounter where Jesus faces a calculated and insidious trap. It describes the sending of a specific delegation—comprising individuals from two otherwise opposing factions, the Pharisees and the Herodians—with a singular, malicious purpose: to ensnare Jesus by means of His own words. Their aim was not to understand or learn, but to find legal or political grounds to accuse and eliminate Him.

Mark 12 13 Context

Mark 12:13 is situated in the final week of Jesus's earthly ministry, immediately after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His cleansing of the temple. The previous passages in Mark 11-12 depict a escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment. His authority has been openly challenged (Mk 11:27-33), and He has exposed their spiritual barrenness through the cursing of the fig tree (Mk 11:12-14, 20-21) and their corrupt practices by cleansing the temple (Mk 11:15-19). Just before this verse, Jesus delivered the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mk 12:1-12), which clearly identified the chief priests, scribes, and elders as the wicked tenants who would reject and kill the landowner's son. This parable intensely provoked them, revealing their true intentions (Mk 12:12), thus leading directly to their desperate attempt to ensnare Him. This verse sets the stage for the famous "tribute to Caesar" question, which follows immediately, designed to corner Jesus either politically (treason against Rome) or religiously (loss of popular support).

Mark 12 13 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A common conjunction, here indicating continuation from the previous passage, highlighting the immediate and retaliatory action by Jesus's opponents.
• they sent (ἀποστέλλουσιν - apostellousin): From apostello, meaning "to send forth," "dispatch with a purpose." It implies an official mission, a deliberate and planned dispatch, not just a casual visit. It underscores the calculated nature of their plot.
• to Him (πρός αὐτόν - pros auton): A direct movement towards Jesus, signifying confrontation and direct engagement.
• some (τινας - tinas): Implies a selection; not all members of these groups, but specific individuals chosen for their shrewdness or suitability for the task.
• of the Pharisees (τῶν Φαρισαίων - tōn Pharisaiōn): A highly influential religious sect known for their strict adherence to the Law, oral tradition, and popular support among the Jewish people. They generally opposed Roman rule.
• and of the Herodians (καὶ τῶν Ἡρωδιανῶν - kai tōn Hērōdianōn): A Jewish political party that supported Herod Antipas and the Herodian dynasty, often seen as pro-Roman collaborators.
• in order that (ἵνα - hina): A Greek conjunction introducing a purpose clause. It explicitly states their malicious objective.
• they might catch Him (αὐτόν ἀγρεύσωσιν - auton agreusōsin): From agreuo, which literally means "to hunt," "to take captive animals with nets, traps, or snares." It powerfully conveys their cunning and predatory intent—they seek to ensnare Jesus through deception and trickery, just as a hunter traps prey.
• in a word (λόγῳ - logō): Dative case of logos, meaning "word," "speech," "discourse," or "argument." Their chosen weapon is verbal. They aim to exploit His spoken words, forcing Him to utter something that could be used against Him either politically (sedition) or religiously (blasphemy/apostasy). This emphasizes the intellectual and rhetorical nature of their trap.

Words-Group Analysis

• "and they sent to Him": This phrase highlights the formal, premeditated nature of the delegation. It wasn't an accidental encounter but a deliberate tactical move by the opposing religious and political establishment.
• "some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians": This is a particularly significant pairing. The Pharisees and Herodians were ideologically at odds; the Pharisees resented Roman occupation and Herod's client kingship, while the Herodians actively supported it. Their collaboration against Jesus underscores the severity of the threat He posed to their combined power and authority. Their unity speaks to their desperation to eliminate a common enemy. It signifies a convergence of religious and political opposition.
• "in order that they might catch Him in a word": This clearly articulates their devious objective and method. It wasn't about seeking truth or engaging in honest debate, but about setting a verbal snare. Their intent was to trick Jesus into saying something that could be used to condemn Him, whether to the Sanhedrin (on religious grounds) or to the Roman authorities (on political grounds). The chosen method, "in a word," indicates their belief in the power of their rhetorical trap to expose what they hoped would be Jesus's weakness or flaw.

Mark 12 13 Bonus section

The term "catch Him" (agreusōsin) links this moment to the metaphor of Jesus being hunted like prey. This dehumanizing intention underscores the profound enmity towards Him. This hunting imagery evokes other biblical passages where the wicked lay snares for the righteous, only to fall into their own traps (e.g., Ps 35:8, 57:6). The alliance of the Pharisees and Herodians serves as a historical example of how diverse opposing parties can unite against a perceived common enemy, even setting aside their own deep-seated disagreements for the sake of eliminating that enemy. This scene dramatically highlights Jesus's divine wisdom and foresight, as He unfailingly perceives their wicked intentions despite their outwardly sincere questions, consistently thwarting their schemes (as seen in Mk 12:14-17).

Mark 12 13 Commentary

Mark 12:13 initiates the second of four carefully orchestrated "testing" encounters designed by the Jewish leaders to trap Jesus after He asserted His authority in the temple. This specific verse reveals the strategic alliance between the Pharisees and Herodians, two groups who rarely cooperated due to their divergent political and religious views. Their unlikely coalition demonstrates the perceived existential threat Jesus posed to both their spiritual authority and their political standing under Rome. Their objective was not debate or inquiry, but "to catch Him by a word," implying a malicious intent to corner Him with a dilemma where any answer He gave would provide grounds for His arrest or condemnation, either by alienating the Jewish populace (if He favored Roman taxation) or by appearing rebellious to Rome (if He rejected it). The choice of "a word" as their weapon underlines the subtle but potent nature of their plot, aimed at discrediting Him through His own teachings and wisdom.