And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Parallel translations
- WEB To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!”
- BSB To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”
- NKJV And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
- NASB and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away from here; stop making My Father’s house a place of business!”
- NLT Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus commands that the doves be removed and that His Father's house not be made a marketplace. He claims a unique relationship to God and zeal for true worship.
Overview
Calling the temple 'my Father's house,' Jesus implicitly asserts His divine sonship while rebuking the commercialization of worship. His concern is that the place set apart for God has become a market. The cleansing reveals both His authority and His passion that God be honored rightly, pointing ahead to the worship 'in spirit and truth' He will establish.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Matt 21:13And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
- Jer 7:11Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.
- Mark 11:17And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
- Isa 56:5–11Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
- Luke 2:49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
- 2 Pet 2:14–15Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
- Hos 12:7–8He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- John 5:17But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
- 2 Pet 2:3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
- John 20:17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
- 1 Tim 6:5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
- Acts 19:24–27For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
- John 10:29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
- John 8:49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 2:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.