Mark 12:28

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Then one of the scribes, having heard their debate and knowing that Jesus had answered them well, asked him, 'Which commandment is the most important of all?'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

¶Καὶ προσελθὼν εἷς τῶν γραμματέων, ἀκούσας αὐτῶν συζητούντων, εἰδὼς ὅτι καλῶς αὐτοῖς ἀπεκρίθη, ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν, Ποία ἐστὶν πρώτη πασῶν ἐντολή;

Transliteration

And proselthōn heis of the grammateōn, akousas them syzētountōn, eidōs that kalōs to them apekrithē, epērōtēsen him, What kind estin prōtē of all entolē?

Grammar Details

• *proselthōn*: aorist active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having come to
• *heis*: nominative, masculine, singular - one
• *grammateōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of scribes
• *akousas*: aorist active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having heard
• *syzētountōn*: present active participle, genitive, masculine, plural - disputing/discussing
• *eidōs*: perfect active participle, nominative, masculine, singular - knowing/having seen
• *kalōs*: adverb - well/rightly
• *apekrithē*: aorist passive indicative, 3rd singular - he answered [completed action]
• *epērōtēsen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - he questioned [completed action]
• *estin*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - is
• *prōtē*: nominative, feminine, singular - first
• *entolē*: nominative, feminine, singular - commandment

Word Meanings

• *proselthōn*: having come to/approached
• *heis*: one/a certain one
• *grammateōn*: scribes/law-experts
• *akousas*: having heard/listened to
• *syzētountōn*: disputing/discussing/debating
• *eidōs*: knowing/having seen/perceiving
• *kalōs*: well/rightly/properly
• *apekrithē*: he answered/responded
• *epērōtēsen*: he questioned/asked
• *estin*: is/exists
• *prōtē*: first/foremost/chief
• *entolē*: commandment/precept/instruction

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, 'Which is the first commandment of all?'

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  And ther came one of the scribes that had hearde them disputynge to gedder and perceaved that he had answered them well and axed him: Which is the fyrste of all the commaundemetes?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And there came vnto him one of the scrybes, that had herkened vnto the how they disputed together, and sawe that he had answered them well, and axed him: Which is the chefest comaundement of all?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then came one of the Scribes that had heard them disputing together, and perceiuing that he had answered them well, he asked him, Which is the first commandement of all?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when there came one of the scribes, & had heard them disputyng together, and perceaued that he had aunswered them well, he asked him: which is the first of all the comaundementes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And one of the scribes having come near, having heard them disputing, knowing that he answered them well, questioned him, `Which is the first command of all?'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And one of the scribes came, and hearing their argument together, and seeing that he had given them a good answer, put the question to him, Which law is the first of all?

• World English Bible (2000)

  One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the greatest of all?"

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  The Greatest Commandment Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him,“Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Referenced Verses

• Matt 22:34-40 : 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with a question, 36 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' 37 Jesus replied, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.
• Luke 20:39 : 39 Some of the scribes replied, 'Teacher, you have spoken well.'
• Luke 10:25-28 : 25 And behold, an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, 'Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' 26 He asked him, 'What is written in the Law? How do you read it?' 27 The man answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.' 28 Jesus said to him, 'You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.'
• Luke 11:42 : 42 But woe to you Pharisees! For you give a tenth of mint, rue, and every herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
• Matt 23:23 : 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint, dill, and cumin but have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
• Matt 5:19 : 19 So whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
• Matt 19:18 : 18 The man asked, "Which ones?" Jesus answered, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,