Be Sure to Note the Context Provided by Verse 40

Mark 12.41-44

Be sure to note the context provided by verse 40.

BGT Καὶκαθίσαςκατέναντιτοῦγαζοφυλακίουἐθεώρειπῶςὁὄχλοςβάλλειχαλκὸνεἰςτὸγαζοφυλάκιον. καὶπολλοὶπλούσιοιἔβαλλονπολλά·

NAU And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.

KJV And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

DRA And Jesus sitting over against the treasury, beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

NRS He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.

NET Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts.

NIV Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

NLT Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.

MSG Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions.

It is probable that the "treasury" (or "contribution box" - cf. the NET Bible note) was in vestibule of the Court of Women in the Temple Mount complex.
For πλούσιοι, cf. Mark 10.23

BGT καὶἐλθοῦσαμίαχήραπτωχὴἔβαλενλεπτὰδύο, ὅἐστινκοδράντης.

NAU A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.

KJV And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

DRA And there came a certain poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.

NRS A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

NET And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.

NIV But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

NLT Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

MSG One poor widow came up and put in two small coins--a measly two cents.

Note that she is πτωχόςwhich is worse than beingπένης.
Note how her money is described: two λεπτὰ(a Greek term; cf. NET note: worth about 6 minutes of a daily wage) which is equal to a κοδράντης (or quadrans, a Latin term; the smallest Roman coin). Why is the amount of her donation described this way?

BGT καὶπροσκαλεσάμενοςτοὺςμαθητὰςαὐτοῦεἶπεναὐτοῖς· ἀμὴνλέγωὑμῖνὅτιἡχήρααὕτηἡπτωχὴπλεῖονπάντωνἔβαλεντῶνβαλλόντωνεἰςτὸγαζοφυλάκιον·

NAU Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury;

KJV And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

DRA And calling his disciples together, he saith to them: Amen I say to you, this poor widow hath cast in more than all they who have cast into the treasury.

NRS Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.

NET He called his disciples and said to them, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.

NIV Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

NLT Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions.

MSG Jesus called his disciples over and said, "The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together.

Note the repetition of the identifiers of this person: "poor" and "widow." What is significant about this combination that is emphasized?

BGT πάντεςγὰρἐκτοῦπερισσεύοντοςαὐτοῖςἔβαλον, αὕτηδὲἐκτῆςὑστερήσεωςαὐτῆςπάνταὅσαεἶχενἔβαλενὅλοντὸνβίοναὐτῆς.

NAU for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."

KJV For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

DRA For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want cast in all she had, even her whole living.

NRS For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

NET For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had."

NIV They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

NLT For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."

MSG All the others gave what they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford--she gave her all."

The thought of the passage is clear enough, but the parallelism is a bit stretched. How does one give out of one's "lack"?
Do you understand Jesus' statement to be literal (i.e., it really was "everything" she had) or hyperbolic (i.e., it was a lot, especially in relationship to her need)?