As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
Parallel translations
- WEB As he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of buildings!”
- KJV And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
- BSB As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, look at the magnificent stones and buildings!”
- NKJV Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”
- NASB As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, look! What wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
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
A disciple marvels at the magnificent stones and buildings of the temple as they leave. Their admiration sets up Jesus' startling prophecy of its destruction.
Overview
Herod's temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world, its massive stones and gleaming structures inspiring awe. The disciple's comment is understandable, yet it fixes on outward grandeur. Jesus is about to redirect their gaze from the impressive but doomed building to coming judgment and the certainty of his own word, beginning the great discourse of Mark 13.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Matt 24:1–51Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.
- Ezek 11:22–23Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
- Ezek 10:4Yahweh’s glory mounted up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Yahweh’s glory.
- Ezek 7:20–22As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have made it to them as an unclean thing.
- Ezek 10:19The cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went out, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Yahweh’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
- Ezek 8:6He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they do? Even the great abominations that the house of Israel commit here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? But you will again see yet other great abominations.”
- Mal 3:1–2“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
- Luke 21:5–36As some were talking about the temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts, he said,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 13:1 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.