The Meaning of Mark 11:15 Explained

Mark 11:15

KJV: And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

YLT: And they come to Jerusalem, and Jesus having gone into the temple, began to cast forth those selling and buying in the temple, and the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those selling the doves, he overthrew,

Darby: And they come to Jerusalem, and entering into the temple, he began to cast out those who sold and who bought in the temple, and he overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of the dove-sellers,

ASV: And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they come  to  Jerusalem:  and  Jesus  went  into  the temple,  and began  to cast out  them that sold  and  bought  in  the temple,  and  overthrew  the tables  of the moneychangers,  and  the seats  of them  that sold  doves; 

What does Mark 11:15 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 11:1-19 - Praise And Fear Greet Jesus' Approach
On the first day of Passion Week a gleam of light fell athwart the Master's path as He rode into Jerusalem. It was a lowly triumph. The humble ass was escorted by poor men, Galilean pilgrims, and children, who excited the haughty criticism of the metropolis. May a similar procession enter your heart and mine! "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in."
With irresistible might the Lord drove forth the buyers and sellers from the Temple. According to the ancient prediction, He sat as a refiner and purifier of silver, to purify the sons of Levi. And whenever He enters the heart, He performs a similar work. He drives out bestial forms of sin, and mere traffic, so that the whole nature-spirit, soul, and body-may be surrendered to God. What our Lord said of the Temple should be true of each church of the living God. It should be His residence, where men of all nationalities should come to a unity, as they worship, confess sin, and intercede. Certainly God's house must not be a place of merchandise and traffic. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 11

1  Jesus rides with triumph into Jerusalem;
12  curses the fruitless fig tree;
15  purges the temple;
20  exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies;
27  and defends his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent of God

Greek Commentary for Mark 11:15

Began to cast out [ηρχατο εκβαλλειν]
Mark is fond of “began.” See note on Matthew 21:12. for discussion of this second cleansing of the temple in its bearing on that in John 2:14. [source]
Money-changers [kollubistōn)]
This same late word in Matthew 21:12 which see for discussion. It occurs in papyri. [source]
Money-changers [κολλυβιστῶν]
Another unclassical word, but used also by Matthew. “Such words as these might naturally find their place in the mongrel Greek of the slaves and freedmen who formed the first congregations of the church in Rome” (Ezra Abbott, Art. “Gospels,” in Encyc. Britannica). See on Matthew 21:12. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 11:15

Luke 19:23 Into the bank [επι τραπεζαν]
Literally, upon a table. This old word τραπεζα — trapeza from τετραπεζα — tetrapeza It means then any table (Mark 7:28), food on the table (Acts 16:34), feast or banquet (Romans 11:9), table of the money-changers (John 2:15; Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:12), or bank as here. Our word bank is from Old English bench.With interest (συν τοκωι — sun tokōi). Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27.Should have required it Conclusion of second-class condition the condition or apodosis being implied in the participle “coming” (ελτων — elthōn), and the previous question. On this technical use of πρασσω — prassō (επραχα — epraxa) See note on Luke 3:13. [source]
Luke 19:23 upon a table []
. This old word τραπεζα — trapeza from τετραπεζα — tetrapeza It means then any table (Mark 7:28), food on the table (Acts 16:34), feast or banquet (Romans 11:9), table of the money-changers (John 2:15; Mark 11:15; Matthew 21:12), or bank as here. Our word bank is from Old English bench.With interest (συν τοκωι — sun tokōi). Not usury, but proper and legal interest. Old word from τικτω — tiktō to bring forth. In the N.T. only here and Matthew 25:27.Should have required it Conclusion of second-class condition the condition or apodosis being implied in the participle “coming” (ελτων — elthōn), and the previous question. On this technical use of πρασσω — prassō (επραχα — epraxa) See note on Luke 3:13. [source]
Luke 19:45 Began to cast out [ηρχατο εκβαλλειν]
So Mark 11:15 whereas Matthew 21:12 has simply “he cast out.” See Mark and Matthew for discussion of this second cleansing of the temple at the close of the public ministry in relation to the one at the beginning in John 2:14-22. There is nothing gained by accusing John or the Synoptics of a gross chronological blunder. There was abundant time in these three years for all the abuses to be revived. [source]
Luke 3:12 Also publicans [και τελωναι]
We have had the word already in Matthew (Matthew 5:46; Matthew 9:10; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 18:17; Matthew 21:31.) and Mark (Mark 11:15.). It is sometimes coupled with harlots and other sinners, the outcasts of society. The word is made up from τελος — telos tax, and ωνεομαι — ōneomai to buy, and is an old one. The renter or collector of taxes was not popular anywhere, but least of all when a Jew collected taxes for the Romans and did it by terrible graft and extortions. [source]
John 2:14 Changers of money [κερματιστὰς]
Only here in the New Testament. The kindred noun κέρμα , money, which occurs only in John 2:15, is from κείρω , to cut into bits, and means therefore small coin; “small change,” of which the money-changers would require a large supply. Hence changers of money means, strictly, dealers in small change. Matthew and Mark use λυβιστής (see John 2:15), of which the meaning is substantially the same so far as regards the dealing in small coin; but with the difference that κόλλυβος , the noun from which it is derived, and meaning a small coin, is also used to denote the rate of exchange. This latter word therefore gives a hint of the premium on exchange, which John's word here does not convey. The money-changers opened their stalls in the country towns a month before the feast. By the time of the first arrivals of passover-pilgrims at Jerusalem, the country stalls were closed, and the money-changers sat in the temple (see on Matthew 17:24; see on Matthew 21:12; see on Mark 11:15). John's picture of this incident is more graphic and detailed than those of the Synoptists, who merely state summarily the driving out of the traders and the overthrow of the tables. Compare Matthew 21:12, Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45, Luke 19:46. [source]
John 2:14 Those that sold [τους πωλουντας]
Present active articular participle of πωλεω — pōleō to sell. They were in the Court of the Gentiles within the temple precinct Probably their very presence in his Father‘s house angered Jesus. The Synoptics (Mark 11:15-17; Matthew 21:12.; Luke 19:45.) record a similar incident the day after the Triumphal Entry. If there was only one, it would seem more natural at the close. But why could it not occur at the beginning also? Here it is an obvious protest by Christ at the beginning of his ministry as in the Synoptics it is an indignant outcry against the desecration. The cessation was only temporary in both instances. [source]
2 Timothy 2:14 Lit. to nothing useful . Ἑπ ' οὐδὲν , oP. He uses εἰς κενόν to no purpose . See 2 Corinthians 6:1 ; Galatians 2:2 ; Philemon 2:16 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:5 . Χρήσιμος usefulN.T.o To the subverting [ἐπὶ καταστροφῇ]
Ἑπὶ does not mean here to or for (purpose or object). but indicates the ground on which the unprofitableness of the wordy strife rests. Unprofitable because it works subversion of the hearers. Καταστροφή subversiontransliterated into catastrophe, only here and 2 Peter 2:6. In lxx of the destruction or overthrow of men or cities. Καταστρέφειν tooverturn, Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Acts 15:16, cit. Paul uses καθαίρεσις pullingdown, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10 [source]
2 Timothy 2:14 To no profit [ἐπ ' οὐδὲν χρήσιμον]
Lit. to nothing useful. Ἑπ ' οὐδὲν , oP. He uses εἰς κενόν tono purpose. See 2 Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 2:2; Philemon 2:16; 1 Thessalonians 3:5. Χρήσιμος usefulN.T.oTo the subverting ( ἐπὶ καταστροφῇ ) Ἑπὶ does not mean here to or for (purpose or object). but indicates the ground on which the unprofitableness of the wordy strife rests. Unprofitable because it works subversion of the hearers. Καταστροφή subversiontransliterated into catastrophe, only here and 2 Peter 2:6. In lxx of the destruction or overthrow of men or cities. Καταστρέφειν tooverturn, Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Acts 15:16, cit. Paul uses καθαίρεσις pullingdown, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 13:10 [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 11:15 mean?

And they come to Jerusalem having entered into the temple He began to cast out those selling buying in the temple the tables of the money changers seats of those selling doves He overturned
Καὶ ἔρχονται εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἤρξατο ἐκβάλλειν τοὺς πωλοῦντας ἀγοράζοντας ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ τὰς τραπέζας τῶν κολλυβιστῶν καθέδρας τῶν πωλούντων περιστερὰς κατέστρεψεν

ἔρχονται  they  come 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
Ἱεροσόλυμα  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: Ἱεροσόλυμα  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
εἰσελθὼν  having  entered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἰσέρχομαι  
Sense: to go out or come in: to enter.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἱερὸν  temple 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
ἤρξατο  He  began 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἄρχω  
Sense: to be the first to do (anything), to begin.
ἐκβάλλειν  to  cast  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἐκβάλλω  
Sense: to cast out, drive out, to send out.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πωλοῦντας  selling 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πωλέω  
Sense: to barter, to sell.
ἀγοράζοντας  buying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγοράζω  
Sense: to be in the market place, to attend it.
ἱερῷ  temple 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
τραπέζας  tables 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: τράπεζα  
Sense: a table.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κολλυβιστῶν  money  changers 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: κολλυβιστής  
Sense: a money-changer, banker.
καθέδρας  seats 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: καθέδρα  
Sense: a chair, a seat.
τῶν  of  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πωλούντων  selling 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πωλέω  
Sense: to barter, to sell.
περιστερὰς  doves 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: περιστερά  
Sense: a dove.
κατέστρεψεν  He  overturned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταστρέφω  
Sense: to turn over, turn under.

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