For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Parallel translations
- WEB for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
- KJV For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
- NKJV for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
- NASB for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
- NLT For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
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
The rich gave from their surplus, but the widow gave all she had to live on. Her gift was total, trusting self-surrender to God.
Overview
The widow's offering left her with nothing, an act of complete dependence on God's care. Her devotion foreshadows the self-giving of Christ, who, though rich, became poor and gave his very life for us (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus commends not the amount but the wholehearted trust, calling his followers to give themselves fully to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- 2 Cor 8:2–3In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.
- 1 Jn 3:17If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?
- Ezra 2:68–69When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings to rebuild the house of God on its original site.
- Mark 14:8She has done what she could to anoint My body in advance of My burial.
- Luke 21:2–4and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.
- Luke 15:30But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
- Luke 8:43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.
- 2 Chr 24:10–14All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full.
- Deut 24:6Do not take a pair of millstones or even an upper millstone as security for a debt, because that would be taking one’s livelihood as security.
- 2 Chr 31:5–10As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.
- Neh 7:70–72Some of the heads of the families contributed to the project. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics of gold, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments.
- Luke 15:12The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
- Phil 4:10–17Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
- 2 Chr 35:7–8From his own flocks and herds Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.
- 1 Chr 29:2–17Now with all my ability I have made provision for the house of my God—gold for the gold articles, silver for the silver, bronze for the bronze, iron for the iron, and wood for the wood, as well as onyx for the settings, turquoise, stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and slabs of marble—all in abundance.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 12:44 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.