And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

MARK 12:16KJV
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Mark 12:16 (KJV)

What does Mark 12:16 mean?

Mark 12:16 shows Jesus asking a group of people whose image and inscription are on a coin they have brought him, and they answer that it belongs to Caesar. This exchange sets up Jesus’ teaching about the relationship between civic duty and religious loyalty.

In this scene, Jesus is responding to a question from some Pharisees and Herodians who are trying to trap him with a question about paying taxes to the Roman emperor. Jesus asks them to bring a coin, then points out the image (portrait) and inscription (writing) on it, which both identify Caesar as the authority. This detail prepares the ground for his famous statement about giving to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.

The Greek behind Mark 12:16

  • εἰκών (eikōn, “image”): This word refers to a likeness or portrait, specifically the face stamped on the coin. Jesus draws attention to the fact that the coin physically bears Caesar’s image, underlining the coin’s connection to Roman authority.
  • ἐπιγραφή (epigraphē, “superscription”): This means the inscription or writing on the coin, usually stating Caesar’s name and titles. Mentioning both the image and inscription makes it clear that the coin is officially Roman property, not just generic currency.
  • Καίσαρος (Kaisaros, “Caesar’s”): The people’s answer uses the emperor’s name as a possessive, confirming that both the image and inscription belong to Caesar. This sets up Jesus’ point about the coin’s rightful ownership and the limits of earthly authority.

Why Mark 12:16 matters

  • Mark 12:16 clarifies that Jesus is not avoiding the political question but is making his listeners confront the obvious evidence on the coin itself.
  • The verse helps explain why Jesus’ later statement about giving to Caesar and to God is not just clever but rooted in the real, physical details of daily life under Roman rule.
  • By focusing on the image and inscription, Mark 12:16 highlights the difference between what belongs to earthly rulers and what belongs to God, setting up a key teaching about divided loyalties.