Mark 12:16

16 and they brought, and he saith to them, `Whose [is] this image, and the inscription?' and they said to 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 they having come, say to him, `Teacher, we have known that thou art true, and thou art not caring for any one, for thou dost not look to the face of men, but in truth the way of God dost teach; is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not? may we give, or may we not give?'

15 And he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, `Why me do ye tempt? bring me a denary, that I may see;'

16 and they brought, and he saith to them, `Whose [is] this image, and the inscription?' and they said to him, `Caesar's;'

17 and Jesus answering said to them, `Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;' and they did wonder at him.

18 And the Sadducees come unto him, who say there is not a rising again, and they questioned him, saying,