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John 2:14
ESV In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
NIV In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
NASB And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.
CSB In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there.
NLT In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
KJV And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
NKJV And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.

What does John 2:14 mean?

The presence of the livestock vendors and money changers in the temple probably started off with good intentions. Jewish people traveling long distances to the temple (Deuteronomy 16:16; John 2:13) did not always have the means to bring animals with them. It made sense to provide a way to purchase proper sacrifices. There would also be a need to help people convert their coins into local money. Apparently, turning a profit soon took over. More of a problem was that instead of conducting business near the temple, or just outside it, the marketplace had been moved inside the temple grounds.

The area in question is known as the "Court of the Gentiles," just inside the borders of the temple. This should have been the place where Israel reached out to tell others about God. It was meant to be one of the spaces set aside for God's people to focus on God's purposes. Instead, it was being used as a blatant money grab (John 2:16).

Some interpreters see a warning here for modern ministries: to avoid allowing a ministry to lose sight of its original purpose. Worse is the threat of letting business concerns outweigh spiritual concerns, or a ministry becoming entirely profit-driven.
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