Mar 11:17 Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations...
Mar 11:17 Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but you have made it a den of thieves.
Alternative: Was it not written, "My house will be called all people's meeting place of prayer? Bit you make it a pirate's cave.
This verse is identical in form to the version in Matthew covered here. Christ is quoting here from Isa 56:7. a verse that highlights a problem with the most common translation of the word that is translated here as "nation." This Greek word, ethnos, is usually translated as "Gentiles" in most translations, making it seem as though Christ uses it to refer to non-Jews. The translation in this verse is better because it really means "nation" and "people" generally and is only occasionally used to refer to foreign tribes. The Hebrew word in the Isaiah, `am, makes this clearer because it has not "barbarian" implications at all.
It is also interesting that the word chosen here for "house" is oikos rather than the more common oikia. The reason is that the former refers specifically to a building while the later refers as much to the family or clan that dwells in a house. Christ is saying specifically that the building is not just for the use of the clan but for everyone.
"Is it written" is from graphô (grapho), which means "to write," "having marked or drawn," "to describe," "to brand," "to express by written characters," "to ordain," "to enroll oneself," "to be indicted," and "to write down."
"House" is from oikos (oikos), which means "house," "dwelling place," "room," "home," "meeting hall," "household goods," "substance," and "ruling family." It is any dwelling place but not exclusively a separate house.
"Shall be called" is from kaleô (kaleo), which means "call," "summon," "invite," "invoke," "call by name," and "demand."
"Nations" is from ethnos (ethnos), which means "a number of people living together," "company," "body of men," "tribe," "a people," "nation," and (later) "foreign, barbarous nations."
"Prayer" is from proseuchê (proseuche), which means only "prayer." The verb form, proseuchomai, is usually used by Christ in his teachings.
"Made" is from poieô ( poieo), which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."
"Den" is from spêlaion (spelaion), which means "grotto," "cavern," and "cave." It is the source for our term for exploring caves, "spelunking." It also means "behind the scenes" in a theater.
"Thieves" is from lêistês (lestes), which means "robber" or "pirate."
