For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.
Parallel translations
- KJV For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
- BSB For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent.
- ESV For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.
- NKJV For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
- NASB For many people were giving false testimony against Him, and so their testimonies were not consistent.
- NLT Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
Many testify falsely, but their accounts do not agree. The case against Jesus collapses for lack of consistent witnesses.
Overview
Under the law two agreeing witnesses were required for conviction, yet the false testimonies contradict one another. The breakdown of the accusations again confirms Jesus' innocence. His unjust trial fulfills the Scriptures and shows the spotless Lamb condemned by lies.
Cross-references & the web
No cross-references recorded for this verse.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 14:56 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.