The Meaning of Mark 14:58 Explained

Mark 14:58

KJV: We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

YLT: We heard him saying -- I will throw down this sanctuary made with hands, and by three days, another made without hands I will build;'

Darby: We heard him saying, I will destroy this temple which is made with hands, and in the course of three days I will build another not made with hands.

ASV: We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

<3754> We  heard  him  say,  I  will destroy  this  temple  that is made with hands,  and  within  three  days  I will build  another  made without hands. 

What does Mark 14:58 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 14:53-72 - A Mockery Of Justice
A commission of the chief priests awaited the result of the treachery of Judas at the house of Caiaphas. They had made up their minds what to do, but the form of a trial was necessary. The false witnesses were obviously unable to establish a sufficient case, and our Lord maintained a dignified silence. It was too much for Caiaphas, and he put his prisoner on his oath. Our Lord made no attempt to parry the issue or turn aside from the challenge, but replied: I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. See Psalms 110:1; Daniel 7:13. Then followed a shameful scene, Mark 14:65. But our Lord was as self-restrained in the use of His mighty powers as if He had been one of the most helpless of men. The graphic story of the denial, which took place at the time of the trial in the servants' hall, was probably given to the evangelist by Peter himself. What a contrast between the strength of the Master and the weakness of the disciple! Yet Peter was forgiven and made the Apostle of the Pentecost! We may have hope! [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 14

1  A conspiracy against Jesus
3  Expensive perfume is poured on his head by a woman
10  Judas sells his Master for money
12  Jesus himself foretells how he will be betrayed by one of his disciples;
22  after the passover prepared, and eaten, institutes his last supper;
26  declares beforehand the flight of all his disciples, and Peter's denial
43  Judas betrays him with a kiss
46  Jesus is apprehended in the garden;
53  falsely accused and impiously condemned of the council;
65  shamefully abused by them;
66  and thrice denied by Peter

Greek Commentary for Mark 14:58

Made with hands [χειροποιητον]
In Mark alone. An old Greek word. The negative form αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton here occurs elsewhere only in 2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 2:11. In Hebrews 9:11 the negative ου — ou is used with the positive form. It is possible that a real λογιον — logion of Jesus underlies the perversion of it here. Mark and Matthew do not quote the witnesses precisely alike. Perhaps they quoted Jesus differently and therein is shown part of the disagreement, for Mark adds Mark 14:59 (not in Matthew). “And not even so did their witness agree together,” repeating the point of Mark 14:57. Swete observes that Jesus, as a matter of fact, did do what he is quoted as saying in Mark: “He said what the event has proved to be true; His death destroyed the old order, and His resurrection created the new.” But these witnesses did not mean that by what they said. The only saying of Jesus at all like this preserved to us is that in John 2:19, when he referred not to the temple in Jerusalem, but to the temple of his body, though no one understood it at the time. [source]
Made with hands []
Mark adds this detail; also made without hands, and the following sentence. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 14:58

John 2:22 When therefore he was raised from the dead [οτε ουν ηγερτη εκ νεκρων]
First aorist passive indicative of εγειρω — egeirō to raise up. And not at first then, but only slowly after the disciples themselves were convinced. Then “they believed the Scripture” They “believed” again. Dative case γραπηι — graphēi Probably Psalm 16:10 is meant (Acts 2:31; Acts 13:35). And the word which Jesus had said Dative case λογωι — logōi also, but ον — hon (relative) is not attracted to the dative. Clearly then John interprets Jesus to have a parabolic reference to his death and resurrection by his language in John 2:19. There are those who bluntly say that John was mistaken. I prefer to say that these scholars are mistaken. Even Bernard considers it “hardly possible” that John interprets Jesus rightly in John 1:21. “Had he meant that, He would have spoken with less ambiguity.” But how do we know that Jesus wished to be understood clearly at this time? Certainly no one understood Christ when he spoke the words. The language of Jesus is recalled and perverted at his trial as “I will destroy” (Mark 14:58), “I can destroy” (Matthew 26:61), neither of which he said. [source]
Acts 7:48 In houses made with hands [εν χειροποιητοις]
No word here for “houses” or “temples” in correct text Literally, “In things made with hands” It occurs in Mark 14:58 of the temple and of the sanctuary of Moab (Isaiah 16:12). It occurs also in Acts 7:24; Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:24; Ephesians 2:11. Common in the old Greek. The prophet (ο προπητης — ho prophētēs). Isaiah 66:1. Isaiah taught plainly that heaven is God‘s throne. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:1 The earthly house of our tabernacle [η επιγειος ημων οικια του σκηνους]
Rather, “If our earthly (see note on 1 Corinthians 15:40 for επιγειος — epigeios) house of the tent Present indicative. We possess the title to it now by faith. “Faith is the title-deed (υποστασις — hupostasis) to things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:7). A building from God This οικοδομη — oikodomē (found in Aristotle, Plutarch, lxx, etc., and papyri, though condemned by Atticists) is more substantial than the σκηνος — skēnos Not made with hands (αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton). Found first in Mark 14:58 in charge against Jesus before the Sanhedrin (both the common verbal χειροποιητον — cheiropoiēton and the newly made vernacular αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton same verbal with α — a privative). Elsewhere only here and Colossians 2:11. Spiritual, eternal home. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:1 A building from God [οικοδομην εκ τεου]
This οικοδομη — oikodomē (found in Aristotle, Plutarch, lxx, etc., and papyri, though condemned by Atticists) is more substantial than the σκηνος — skēnos Not made with hands (αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton). Found first in Mark 14:58 in charge against Jesus before the Sanhedrin (both the common verbal χειροποιητον — cheiropoiēton and the newly made vernacular αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton same verbal with α — a privative). Elsewhere only here and Colossians 2:11. Spiritual, eternal home. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:1 Not made with hands [αχειροποιητον]
Found first in Mark 14:58 in charge against Jesus before the Sanhedrin (both the common verbal χειροποιητον — cheiropoiēton and the newly made vernacular αχειροποιητον — acheiropoiēton same verbal with α — a privative). Elsewhere only here and Colossians 2:11. Spiritual, eternal home. [source]
Ephesians 2:11 That aforetime ye [οτι ποτε υμεις]
No verb is expressed, but in Ephesians 2:12 Paul repeats οτι εν τωι καιρωι εκεινωι — hoti en tōi kairōi ekeinōi (for ποτε — pote) “that at that time” and inserts ητε — ēte (ye were). Uncircumcision (ακροβυστια — akrobustia), circumcision (περιτομης — peritomēs). The abstract words are used to describe Gentiles and Jews as in Galatians 5:6; Romans 2:27. Made by hands Agreeing with περιτομης — peritomēs Verbal (Mark 14:58) from χειροποιεω — cheiropoieō like αχειροποιητος — acheiropoiētos in Colossians 2:11. [source]
Ephesians 2:11 Made by hands [χειροποιητου]
Agreeing with περιτομης — peritomēs Verbal (Mark 14:58) from χειροποιεω — cheiropoieō like αχειροποιητος — acheiropoiētos in Colossians 2:11. [source]
Colossians 2:11 Not made with hands []
Compare Mark 14:58; 2 Corinthians 5:1. In allusion to the literal circumcision insisted on by the false teachers. [source]
Colossians 2:11 Not made with hands [αχειροποιητωι]
This late and rare negative compound verbal occurs only in the N.T. (Mark 14:58; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 2:11) by merely adding α — a privative to the old verbal χειροποιητος — cheiropoiētos (Acts 7:48; Ephesians 2:11), possibly first in Mark 14:58 where both words occur concerning the temple. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 the reference is to the resurrection body. The feminine form of this compound adjective is the same as the masculine. In the putting off (εν τηι απεκδυσει — en tēi apekdusei). As if an old garment (the fleshly body). From απεκδυομαι — apekduomai (Colossians 2:15, possibly also coined by Paul) and occurring nowhere else so far as known. The word is made in a perfectly normal way by the perfective use of the two Greek prepositions (απο εκ — apoτου Χριστου — ek), “a resource available for and generally used by any real thinker writing Greek” (Moulton and Milligan, Vocabulary). Paul had as much right to mint a Greek compound as any one and surely no one ever had more ideas to express and more power in doing it. Of Christ Specifying genitive, the kind of circumcision that belongs to Christ, that of the heart. [source]
Hebrews 9:11 Having come [παραγενομενος]
Second aorist middle participle of παραγινομαι — paraginomai This is the great historic event that is the crux of history. “Christ came on the scene, and all was changed” (Moffatt). Of the good things to come But B D read γενομενων — genomenōn (that are come). It is a nice question which is the true text. Both aspects are true, for Christ is High Priest of good things that have already come as well as of the glorious future of hope. Westcott prefers γενομενων — genomenōn Moffatt μελλοντων — mellontōn Through the greater and more perfect tabernacle Probably the instrumental use of δια — dia (2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20) as accompaniment, not the local idea (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 10:20). Christ as High Priest employed in his work the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:2) after which the earthly was patterned (Hebrews 9:24). Not made with hands Old compound verbal for which see Mark 14:58; Acts 7:48; Acts 17:24. Cf. Hebrews 8:2. Here in the predicate position. Not of this creation Explanation of ου χιεροποιητου — ou chieropoiētou For κτισις — ktisis see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:19. For the idea see 2 Corinthians 4:18; Hebrews 8:2. This greater and more perfect tabernacle is heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 14:58 mean?

- We heard Him saying I will destroy the temple this the [one] made with hands and in three days another not made with hands I will build
Ὅτι Ἡμεῖς ἠκούσαμεν αὐτοῦ λέγοντος Ἐγὼ καταλύσω τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον τὸν χειροποίητον καὶ διὰ τριῶν ἡμερῶν ἄλλον ἀχειροποίητον οἰκοδομήσω

Ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἠκούσαμεν  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
λέγοντος  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
καταλύσω  will  destroy 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: καταλύω  
Sense: to dissolve, disunite.
ναὸν  temple 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ναός  
Sense: used of the temple at Jerusalem, but only of the sacred edifice (or sanctuary) itself, consisting of the Holy place and the Holy of Holies (in classical Greek it is used of the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of gold was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure).
τοῦτον  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τὸν  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χειροποίητον  made  with  hands 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: χειροποίητος  
Sense: made by the hands i.e the skill of men.
τριῶν  three 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: τρεῖς 
Sense: three.
ἡμερῶν  days 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἄλλον  another 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
ἀχειροποίητον  not  made  with  hands 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀχειροποίητος  
Sense: not made with hands.
οἰκοδομήσω  I  will  build 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.