He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you (A)hypocrites, as it is written:

(B)‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—[a]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”

He said to them, All too well (C)you [b]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, (D)‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, (E)‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, (F)“Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:8 NU omits the rest of v. 8.
  2. Mark 7:9 set aside

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’[a](A)

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”(B)

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[b] your own traditions!(C) 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’[c](D) and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’[d](E) 11 But you say(F) that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— 12 then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God(G) by your tradition(H) that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
  2. Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up
  3. Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
  4. Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9