Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
Tuesday in Easter Week
Tuesday in Easter Week
video advertismenet
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Contemporary English Version
Mark 11:31
They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- ThompsonDictionaries:
- BakerEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
King James Version (1611)
And they reasoned with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
And they reasoned with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
King James Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
English Standard Version
And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
New American Standard Bible
And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
New Century Version
They argued about Jesus' question, saying, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
They argued about Jesus' question, saying, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
Amplified Bible
They began discussing it with each other, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
They began discussing it with each other, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
Legacy Standard Bible
And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
Berean Standard Bible
They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Complete Jewish Bible
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, ‘From Heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, ‘From Heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
Darby Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?
Easy-to-Read Version
These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' then he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe John?'
These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' then he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe John?'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they thought with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
And they thought with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
George Lamsa Translation
And they reasoned among themselves and said, If we should say to him, from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?
And they reasoned among themselves and said, If we should say to him, from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?
Good News Translation
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?'
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?'
Lexham English Bible
And they began to discuss this with one another, saying, "What should we say? If we say ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
And they began to discuss this with one another, saying, "What should we say? If we say ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
Literal Translation
And they argued to themselves, saying, If we say, From Heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
And they argued to themselves, saying, If we say, From Heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
American Standard Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
Bible in Basic English
And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him?
And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him?
Hebrew Names Version
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
International Standard Version
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
Etheridge Translation
And they reasoned among themselves, and said, If we say to him, that (it was) from heaven, he saith to us, And why did you not believe him ?
And they reasoned among themselves, and said, If we say to him, that (it was) from heaven, he saith to us, And why did you not believe him ?
Murdock Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, and said: If we should say to him, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, and said: If we should say to him, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they reasoned with them selues, saying, yf we shall say from heauen: he wyll say, why then dyd ye not beleue hym?
And they reasoned with them selues, saying, yf we shall say from heauen: he wyll say, why then dyd ye not beleue hym?
English Revised Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
World English Bible
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
Weymouth's New Testament
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei thouyten with ynne hem silf, seiynge, If we seien of heuene, he schal seie to vs, Whi thanne bileuen ye not to him;
And thei thouyten with ynne hem silf, seiynge, If we seien of heuene, he schal seie to vs, Whi thanne bileuen ye not to him;
Update Bible Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
Webster's Bible Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
New English Translation
They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
New King James Version
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?'
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?'
New Living Translation
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.
New Life Bible
They talked among themselves. They said, "If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?'
They talked among themselves. They said, "If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?'
New Revised Standard
They argued with one another, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
They argued with one another, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they were deliberating among themselves, saying - If we say, Of heaven, he will say, Wherefore thendid ye not believe him?
And they were deliberating among themselves, saying - If we say, Of heaven, he will say, Wherefore thendid ye not believe him?
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?
But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?
Revised Standard Version
And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And they thought in them selves sayinge: yf we shall saye from heven: he will saye why then dyd ye not beleve him?
And they thought in them selves sayinge: yf we shall saye from heven: he will saye why then dyd ye not beleve him?
Young's Literal Translation
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they thought in them selues: yf we saye, it was from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not then beleue him?
And they thought in them selues: yf we saye, it was from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not then beleue him?
Mace New Testament (1729)
answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him?
answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him?
THE MESSAGE
They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say ‘heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John; if we say ‘humans,' we'll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they said. Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either."
They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say ‘heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John; if we say ‘humans,' we'll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they said. Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either."
Simplified Cowboy Version
The huddled together like squabblin' birds at a bird bath. "If we say it was from heaven, he'll ask us why didn't we believe in what John was doing.
The huddled together like squabblin' birds at a bird bath. "If we say it was from heaven, he'll ask us why didn't we believe in what John was doing.
Contextual Overview
27 Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem. And as he was walking through the temple, the chief priests, the nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses came over to him. 28 They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?" 29 Jesus answered, "I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things. 30 Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?" 31 They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John. 32 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 33 and told Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus replied, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Why: Matthew 11:7-14, Matthew 21:25-27, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32, John 1:15, John 1:29, John 1:34, John 1:36, John 3:29-36
Reciprocal: John 3:27 - from John 8:46 - why
Cross-References
Genesis 11:2
but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia,
but after some of them moved from the east and settled in Babylonia,
Genesis 11:3
they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world.
they said: Let's build a city with a tower that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world.
Genesis 11:5
But when the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower,
But when the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower,
Genesis 11:26
After Terah was seventy years old, he had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran, who became the father of Lot. Terah's sons were born in the city of Ur in Chaldea, and Haran died there before the death of his father. The following is the story of Terah's descendants.
After Terah was seventy years old, he had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran, who became the father of Lot. Terah's sons were born in the city of Ur in Chaldea, and Haran died there before the death of his father. The following is the story of Terah's descendants.
Genesis 12:4
Abram was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Abram was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran. When they came to the land of Canaan,
Genesis 15:7
The Lord said to Abram, "I brought you here from Ur in Chaldea, and I gave you this land."
The Lord said to Abram, "I brought you here from Ur in Chaldea, and I gave you this land."
Genesis 24:10
Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
Soon after that, the servant loaded ten of Abraham's camels with valuable gifts. Then he set out for the city in northern Syria, where Abraham's brother Nahor lived.
Genesis 24:15
While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back,
While he was still praying, a beautiful unmarried young woman came by with a water jar on her shoulder. She was Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Abraham's brother Nahor and his wife Milcah. Rebekah walked past Abraham's servant, then went over to the well, and filled her water jar. When she started back,
Genesis 27:43
Now listen carefully and do what I say. Go to the home of my brother Laban in Haran
Now listen carefully and do what I say. Go to the home of my brother Laban in Haran
Hebrews 11:8
Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen.
Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they reasoned with themselves saying,.... Privately; perhaps, they withdrew at a little distance for a short time, and consulted among themselves what answer to return; and the amount of their reasonings were this;
if we shall say from heaven, he will say, why then did ye not believe him? that is, should they say that John had a divine commission for what he said and did, they were aware that Christ would reply, why did not ye give credit to him? and had you done so, seeing he testified of me, you would have had no occasion to have put the above question; :-.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. Mark 11:27; Mark 11:27.
