King James Version

What Does Mark 14:58 Mean?

Mark 14:58 in the King James Version says “We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made wi...” — study this verse from Mark chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.”

Mark 14:58 · KJV

Context

56

For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

57

And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

58

We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

59

But neither so did their witness agree together .

60

And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
We heard him say, I will destroy this temple (ὅτι Ἐγὼ καταλύσω τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον, hoti Egō katalysō ton naon touton)—The verb καταλύω (katalyō) means to demolish or overthrow. Jesus did say something similar (John 2:19): 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,' but He spoke of His body, not Herod's temple. Made with hands (χειροποίητον, cheiropoiēton) versus made without hands (ἀχειροποίητον, acheiropoiēton) employs theological categories.

Stephen would later be accused with similar charges (Acts 6:14). The terms evoke Isaiah 66:1-2's contrast between earthly temples and God's true dwelling. The witnesses twisted Jesus's prophetic sign into sedition against the Temple, punishable by death. Their lie contained garbled truth—Jesus would indeed inaugurate a new temple, His resurrection body and the Church (1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 2:21), replacing the old covenant worship system.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Herod's Temple renovation (begun 20 BC) was still ongoing during Jesus's ministry, having already consumed 46 years (John 2:20). Any threat against it was both religious blasphemy and political sedition, as Rome sanctioned the Temple and profited from its operation. The distinction between 'made with hands' and 'without hands' may reflect Jewish speculation about the eschatological temple described in Ezekiel 40-48.

Reflection Questions

  1. How did the witnesses pervert Jesus's true statement about His resurrection body into a false charge?
  2. What does the temple 'made without hands' teach about the new covenant and the Church?
  3. Why would threatening the physical temple be both religiously and politically dangerous in first-century Judaism?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 20 words
ὅτι1 of 20
G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

Ἡμεῖς2 of 20

“We”

G2249

we (only used when emphatic)

ἠκούσαμεν3 of 20

“heard”

G191

to hear (in various senses)

αὐτοῦ4 of 20

“him”

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

λέγοντος5 of 20

“say”

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

ὅτι6 of 20
G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

Ἐγὼ7 of 20

“I”

G1473

i, me

καταλύσω8 of 20

“will destroy”

G2647

to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e., (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially (compare g2646) to halt for the night

τὸν9 of 20
G3588

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

ναὸν10 of 20

“temple”

G3485

a fane, shrine, temple

τοῦτον11 of 20

“this”

G5126

this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)

τὸν12 of 20
G3588

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

χειροποίητον13 of 20

“that is made with hands”

G5499

manufactured, i.e., of human construction

καὶ14 of 20

“and”

G2532

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

διὰ15 of 20

“within”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

τριῶν16 of 20

“three”

G5140

"three"

ἡμερῶν17 of 20

“days”

G2250

day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of

ἄλλον18 of 20

“another”

G243

"else," i.e., different (in many applications)

ἀχειροποίητον19 of 20

“made without hands”

G886

unmanufactured, i.e., inartificial

οἰκοδομήσω20 of 20

“I will build”

G3618

to be a house-builder, i.e., construct or (figuratively) confirm

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 14:58 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 14:58 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 2:19Hebrews 9:112 Corinthians 5:1Mark 15:29Hebrews 9:24Acts 7:48

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