Mark 12:16

16 And they brought it, and He said unto them, "Whose image and superscription is this?" And they said unto Him, "Caesar's."

Mark 12:16 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:16

And they brought it
The penny, which was a Roman one, and worth seven pence halfpenny of our money:

and he saith unto them, whose is this image, and superscription;
for it had the head of an emperor upon it, very likely the image of the then reigning emperor Tiberius, and a superscription on it, expressing his name, and perhaps a motto along with it:

and they said unto him, Caesar's;
one of the Roman emperors, Augustus, or Tiberius; most probably the latter; (See Gill on Matthew 22:20), (See Gill on Matthew 22:21).

Mark 12:16 In-Context

14 And when they had come, they said unto Him, "Master, we know that thou art true and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

15 Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? Bring Me a penny, that I may see it."

16 And they brought it, and He said unto them, "Whose image and superscription is this?" And they said unto Him, "Caesar's."

17 And Jesus answering, said unto them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they marveled at Him.

18 Then came unto Him the Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked Him, saying,