Mark 7: What makes a person unclean
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem ask why his disciples eat with unwashed hands. Jesus answers them about the tradition of the elders and the commandment of God, then tells the crowd and his disciples what defiles a person. He goes to the borders of Tyre and Sidon, where he sends a demon out of a Greek woman's daughter, and then he heals a deaf man who could hardly speak.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and explains Jewish customs in verses 3 and 4. The Pharisees and scribes speak in verse 5. Jesus speaks in verses 6 to 16, 18 to 23, 27, 29 and 34. In verses 6 and 7 he gives words he says Isaiah wrote, and in verse 10 words he says Moses said. The woman speaks in verse 28, and the people speak in verse 37. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.
In plain English: The Pharisees and some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, gathered to him.
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2Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault.
In plain English: They saw that some of his disciples were eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, and they found fault.
The Greek word: "Defiled" is koinais, from koinos. The dictionary gives "common, i.e. (literally) shared by all or several, or (ceremonially) profane". It is in 11 verses of the New Testament. This Bible prints "defiled" only here; in the others it has "common", "unholy", "unclean" or "profane". Mark adds "that is, unwashed".
How it is translated: This Bible has "defiled".
What changes: Read as "common", the hands are ordinary hands, used for everything. Read as "defiled", they are ceremonially unclean.
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3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
In plain English: (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
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4They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
In plain English: They do not eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves. There are many other things they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels and couches.)
The Greek word: "Bathe themselves" is baptisontai, from baptizo. The dictionary gives "to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)". It is in 9 verses of Mark. In 8 of them this Bible prints a form of "baptize" or "Baptizer", and here it has "bathe".
How it is translated: This Bible has "bathe themselves".
What changes: Read as "wash", it is a rinsing of the body. Read as "immerse themselves", it is a full dipping. The verse does not say which.
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5The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?”
In plain English: The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
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6He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
In plain English: He answered them, "Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Good to know: Jesus says Isaiah prophesied this. in this Bible reads: "Because this people draws near with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught." The wording is not the same. Mark's verse 7 has "They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men".
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7They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’
In plain English: They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'
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8“For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
In plain English: Jesus went on: "You set aside the commandment of God and hold tightly to the tradition of men: the washing of pitchers and cups. You do many other things like these."
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9He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.
In plain English: He said to them, "You do it very well: you reject the commandment of God so that you may keep your own tradition.
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10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’
In plain English: For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'
Good to know: Jesus says Moses said these two things. "Honor your father and your mother" is in and . in this Bible reads: "Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death."
The Greek word: "Speaks evil of" is kakologon, from kakologeo. The dictionary gives "to revile".
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11But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” that is to say, given to God,
In plain English: But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever you might have gained from me is Corban,"' that is, given to God,
The Greek word: "Corban" is korban. Mark gives the word as a name and then explains it: "that is, given to God". The dictionary gives "a votive offering and the offering; a consecrated present (to the Temple fund)". It is in 2 verses of the New Testament: here, and , where this Bible prints "treasury".
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12“then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,
In plain English: then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother.
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13making void the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”
In plain English: In this way you make void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."
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14He called all the multitude to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.
In plain English: He called all the crowd to himself and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand.
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15There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
In plain English: There is nothing outside a man that, going into him, can defile him. The things that come out of the man are what defile the man.
The Greek word: "Defile" is koinoo. The dictionary gives "to make (or consider) profane (ceremonially)". It is in 4 verses of Mark (here and in verses 18, 20 and 23), and in all 4 this Bible prints "defile".
How it is translated: This Bible has "defile".
What changes: Read as "make profane (ceremonially)", the saying is about the rules of clean and unclean. Read as plain "defile", it is about what makes a person unclean in any way. Verses 21 to 23 list what Jesus says comes out of a person.
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16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
In plain English: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."
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17When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.
In plain English: When he had gone into a house, away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about the parable.
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18He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,
In plain English: He said to them, "Are you also without understanding? Don't you see that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
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19because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?”
In plain English: because it does not go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out into the latrine, making all foods clean (or: cleansing out all the foods)?"
The Greek words: "Making all foods clean" is katharizon panta ta bromata, word for word "cleansing all the foods". The dictionary gives "to cleanse (literally or figuratively)" for the verb. The verse says what goes into a person goes into the stomach and then out into the latrine, and the last words follow that. It does not say more than this.
How it is translated: This Bible has "making all foods clean".
What changes: Read as "making clean", the last words speak of all foods being made clean. Read as "cleansing out", they describe the food being cleared out of the body. The dictionary's "cleanse" allows both.
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20He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.
In plain English: He said, "What comes out of the man is what defiles the man.
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21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
In plain English: For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,
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22covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
In plain English: coveting, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride and foolishness.
Good to know: "An evil eye" is word for word "eye evil". Mark does not explain it. A similar phrase is in ("your eye be evil against your poor brother") and in ("is your eye evil, because I am good?").
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23All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”
In plain English: All these evil things come from within and defile the man."
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24From there he arose and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house and didn’t want anyone to know it, but he couldn’t escape notice.
In plain English: From there he got up and went away to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house and did not want anyone to know it, but he could not escape notice.
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25For a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
In plain English: A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him, came, and fell down at his feet.
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26Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.
In plain English: The woman was a Greek (or: a non-Jew), a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
The Greek word: "Greek" is Hellenis. The dictionary gives "a Grecian (i.e. non-Jewish) woman". It is in 2 verses of the New Testament: here and , and in both this Bible prints "Greek". Mark adds "a Syrophoenician by race".
How it is translated: This Bible has "Greek".
What changes: Read as "Greek", she is a Greek woman. Read as "non-Jewish", the word says only that she is not a Jew.
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27But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
In plain English: Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
The Greek word: "Dogs" is kynarioi, from kynarion. The dictionary gives "a puppy". It is in 4 verses of the New Testament: here, , and , and in all 4 this Bible prints "dog".
How it is translated: This Bible has "the dogs".
What changes: Read as "puppies" or "little dogs", the word names young or small dogs. Read as "dogs", it names dogs in general. The woman uses the same word in the next verse.
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28But she answered him, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
In plain English: She answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
The Greek word: "Lord" is kyrie, from kyrios. The dictionary gives "supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)". It is in 18 verses of Mark.
How it is translated: This Bible has "Lord".
What changes: Read as "sir", she addresses him with respect, as one person speaks to another. Read as "Lord", she calls him her master or her Lord.
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29He said to her, “For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
In plain English: He said to her, "Because of this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
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30She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
In plain English: She went away to her house and found the child laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
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31Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee through the middle of the region of Decapolis.
In plain English: He left the borders of Tyre and Sidon again and came to the Sea of Galilee, through the middle of the region of Decapolis.
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32They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
In plain English: People brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak. They begged him to lay his hand on him.
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33He took him aside from the multitude privately and put his fingers into his ears; and he spat and touched his tongue.
In plain English: He took him aside from the crowd, privately, and put his fingers into the man's ears. He spat and touched the man's tongue.
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34Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!”
In plain English: He looked up to heaven and sighed. He said to the man, "Ephphatha!" which means "Be opened!"
The Greek word: "Ephphatha" is ephphatha. Mark gives the word as a name and then explains it: "that is, Be opened!". The dictionary gives "be opened!". It is in 1 verse of the New Testament, this one.
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35Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
In plain English: At once the man's ears were opened, the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.
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36He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
In plain English: Jesus commanded them to tell no one, but the more he commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
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37They were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear and the mute speak!”
In plain English: They were astonished beyond measure. They said, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!"
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