King James Version

What Does Mark 11:17 Mean?

Mark 11:17 in the King James Version says “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye ...” — study this verse from Mark chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And 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. of all: or, an house of prayer for all nations”

Mark 11:17 · KJV

Prayer

Context

15

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16

And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

17

And 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. of all: or, an house of prayer for all nations

18

And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.

19

And when even was come, he went out of the city.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?—Jesus quotes Isaiah 56:7, emphasizing the temple's universal purpose: for all nations (πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, pasin tois ethnesin). God intended the temple as a place where Gentiles could worship, yet the religious establishment had filled the Court of the Gentiles with commerce, excluding non-Jews. Jesus' cleansing restores the temple's true purpose, anticipating the gospel's spread to all peoples (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8). The phrase house of prayer (οἶκος προσευχῆς, oikos proseuchēs) emphasizes communion with God, not commercial enterprise.

But ye have made it a den of thieves (σπήλαιον λῃστῶν, spēlaion lēstōn)—Jesus quotes Jeremiah 7:11, comparing the temple establishment to a robbers' hideout. The Greek lēstōn (λῃστῶν) means bandits or violent criminals, not petty thieves—Jesus accuses the priesthood of serious corruption. Jeremiah's original context prophesied the temple's destruction because of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness—Jesus invokes this warning, implying judgment is coming (fulfilled AD 70). The religious leaders used religion as a cover for exploitation: inflated prices for sacrificial animals, extortionate exchange rates, oppressing the poor. Jesus' confrontation cost Him His life—within days, these same leaders would engineer His crucifixion.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Isaiah 56:7, written around 700 BC, promised that God's house would welcome foreigners: "Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Yet by Jesus' day, the Court of the Gentiles—the only place non-Jews could pray—was crowded with commercial stalls. Jeremiah 7:1-15 (written around 609 BC) condemned Israel's false confidence in the temple while living unrighteously, warning that God would destroy the temple as He had destroyed Shiloh. That prophecy was fulfilled in 586 BC when Babylon destroyed Solomon's temple. Jesus' quotation implies the same fate awaits the Second Temple. Historically, Rome destroyed Herod's temple in AD 70, and it has never been rebuilt. Jesus' cleansing was not the first—Nehemiah excluded merchants on the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:15-22)—but Jesus' action was uniquely authoritative and triggered the plot to kill Him (v. 18). The "den of thieves" language suggests the temple leadership used religious positions for personal enrichment, exploiting worshipers economically.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus' emphasis on the temple being 'for all nations' challenge ethnic or cultural barriers to worship and foreshadow the gospel's universal scope?
  2. What modern parallels exist to transforming 'houses of prayer' into 'dens of thieves' through commercialization, manipulation, or exploitation of worshipers?
  3. In what ways does Jesus' cleansing of the physical temple apply to His desire to cleanse the church and individual hearts from corruption and hypocrisy?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 22 words
καὶ1 of 22

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἐδίδασκεν2 of 22

“he taught”

G1321

to teach (in the same broad application)

λέγων3 of 22

“saying”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

αὐτὸν4 of 22

“it”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Οὐ5 of 22

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

γέγραπται6 of 22

“Is it”

G1125

to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe

ὅτι7 of 22
G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

Ὁ8 of 22
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

οἶκος9 of 22

“house”

G3624

a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)

μου10 of 22

“My”

G3450

of me

οἶκος11 of 22

“house”

G3624

a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)

προσευχῆς12 of 22

“of prayer”

G4335

prayer (worship); by implication, an oratory (chapel)

κληθήσεται13 of 22

“shall be called”

G2564

to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)

πᾶσιν14 of 22

“of all”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

τοῖς15 of 22
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἔθνεσιν16 of 22

“nations”

G1484

a race (as of the same habit), i.e., a tribe; specially, a foreign (non-jewish) one (usually, by implication, pagan)

ὑμεῖς17 of 22

“ye”

G5210

you (as subjective of verb)

δὲ18 of 22

“but”

G1161

but, and, etc

εποιήσατε19 of 22

“have made”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

αὐτὸν20 of 22

“it”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

σπήλαιον21 of 22

“a den”

G4693

a cavern; by implication, a hiding-place or resort

λῃστῶν22 of 22

“of thieves”

G3027

a brigand

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Mark. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Mark 11:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Mark 11:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 56:7Jeremiah 7:11Luke 19:46John 2:161 Kings 8:41-48Isaiah 60:7

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