22 A quotation from Isa 56:7.
23 Or “a hideout” (see L&N 1.57).
24 A quotation from Jer 7:11. The meaning of Jesus’ statement about making the temple courts a den of robbers probably operates here at two levels. Not only were the religious leaders robbing the people financially, but because of this they had also robbed them spiritually by stealing from them the opportunity to come to know God genuinely. It is possible that these merchants had recently been moved to this location for convenience.

In other versions

He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

“It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!”

He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

And he said to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a cave of robbers!”

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

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