Mark 7
Amplified Bible
Followers of Tradition
7Â Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him, 2Â and they had seen that some of His disciples ate their bread with [ceremonially] impure hands, that is, unwashed [and defiled according to Jewish religious ritual]. 3Â ([a]For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless they [b]carefully wash their hands, holding firmly to the traditions of the elders; 4Â and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they [c]cleanse themselves [completely according to ritual]; and there are many other things [oral, man-made laws and traditions handed down to them] which they follow diligently, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper utensils.) 5Â So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, âWhy do Your disciples not live their lives according to the tradition of the elders, but [instead] eat their bread with [ceremonially] unwashed hands?â 6Â He replied, âRightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture],
âThese people honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7Â
âThey worship Me in vain [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense],
Teaching the precepts of men as doctrines [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].â(A)
8Â You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling [faithfully] to the tradition of men.â
9Â He was also saying to them, âYou are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations. 10Â For Moses said, âHonor your father and your mother [with respect and gratitude]â; and, âHe who speaks evil of his father or mother must be put to deathâ;(B) 11Â but you [Pharisees and scribes] say, âIf a man tells his father or mother, âWhatever I have that would help you is Corban, (that is to say, already a gift to God),ââ 12Â then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother [since helping them would violate his vow of Corban]; 13Â so you nullify the [authority of the] word of God [acting as if it did not apply] because of your tradition which you have handed down [through the elders]. And you do many things such as that.â
The Heart of Man
14Â After He called the people to Him again, He began saying to them, âListen [carefully] to Me, all of you, [hear] and understand [what I am saying]: 15Â there is nothing outside a man [such as food] which by going into him can defile him [morally or spiritually]; but the things which come out of [the heart of] a man are what defile and dishonor him. 16Â [d][If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.â]
17Â When Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the [e]house, His disciples asked Him about the parable. 18Â And He said to them, âAre you, too, so foolish and lacking in understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile and dishonor him, 19Â since it does not enter his heart, but [only] his stomach, and [from there it] is eliminated?â (By this, He declared all foods [f]ceremonially clean.) 20Â And He said, âWhatever comes from [the heart of] a man, that is what defiles and dishonors him. 21Â For from within, [that is] out the heart of men, come base and malevolent thoughts and schemes, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22Â acts of greed and covetousness, wickedness, deceit, unrestrained conduct, envy and jealousy, slander and profanity, arrogance and self-righteousness and foolishness (poor judgment). 23Â All these evil things [schemes and desires] come from within and defile and dishonor the man.â
The Syrophoenician Woman
24Â Jesus got up and left there and went to the region of Tyre [and Sidon, the coastal area of Phoenicia]. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know about it; but it was impossible for Him to be hidden [from the public].(C) 25Â Instead, after hearing about Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26Â Now the woman was a Gentile (Greek), a [g]Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept pleading with Him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27Â He was saying to her, âFirst let the children [of Israel] be fed, for it is not right to take the childrenâs bread and throw it to the [h]pet dogs (non-Jews).â 28Â But she replied, âYes, Lord, but even the pet dogs under the table eat the childrenâs crumbs.â 29Â And He said to her, âBecause of this answer [reflecting your humility and faith], go [knowing that your request is granted]; the demon has left your daughter [permanently].â 30Â And returning to her home, she found the child lying on the couch [relaxed and resting], the demon having gone.
31Â Soon after this Jesus left the region of Tyre, and passed through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of Decapolis [the ten Hellenistic cities]. 32Â They brought to Him a man who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged Jesus to place His hand on him. 33Â Jesus, taking him aside by himself, away from the crowd, put His fingers into the manâs ears, and after spitting, He touched the manâs tongue [with the saliva]; 34Â and looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply and said to the man, âEphphatha,â which [in Aramaic] means, â[i]Be opened and released!â 35Â And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he began speaking plainly. 36Â Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37Â They were thoroughly astounded and completely overwhelmed, saying, âHe has done everything well! He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak!â
Footnotes
- Mark 7:3 Mark explains Jewish customs and translates Hebrew terms for his Gentile readers.
- Mark 7:3 Lit with the fist. This probably refers either to the method of washing the hands or, perhaps more likely, to the volume of water used.
- Mark 7:4 The Greek word used is baptize, which in this context refers to an immersion ritual normally performed in a miqveh, a special bathtub large enough for the purpose and filled with water that was to be collected naturally. The miqvehs typically were built into the ground outside where they could collect rain water.
- Mark 7:16 Early mss do not contain this verse.
- Mark 7:17 It was probably Peterâs house.
- Mark 7:19 I.e. He abolished all prohibitions given in the Law against certain foods.
- Mark 7:26 She came from an area north of Israel, between the Lebanon Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.
- Mark 7:27 Jews used kuon (dog) as a derogatory term referring to Gentiles. This dog (kuon) was a despised, filthy, homeless street scavenger. When speaking with this woman, Jesus uses a word for âdogâ (kunarion) that refers to a household pet. The use of the word kunariois by both Jesus and the woman reflects the tenderness and spiritual depth of this exchange. More importantly, it foreshadows the fact that Gentile believers will not be spiritually homeless, but will also be welcomed into Godâs household as His children. The gracious response of the woman recorded in v 28 confirms that on some level she understood this.
- Mark 7:34 A command directed to the whole person.
Mark 7
New International Version
That Which Defiles(A)
7Â The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus 2Â and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled,(B) that is, unwashed. 3Â (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.(C) 4Â When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.[a])(D)
5Â So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, âWhy donât your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders(E) instead of eating their food with defiled hands?â
6Â He replied, âIsaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
ââThese people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
7Â They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.â[b](F)
8Â You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.â(G)
9Â And he continued, âYou have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[c] your own traditions!(H) 10Â For Moses said, âHonor your father and mother,â[d](I) and, âAnyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.â[e](J) 11Â But you say(K) that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)â 12Â then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. 13Â Thus you nullify the word of God(L) by your tradition(M) that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.â
14Â Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, âListen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Â Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.â [16]Â [f]
17Â After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him(N) about this parable. 18Â âAre you so dull?â he asked. âDonât you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19Â For it doesnât go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.â (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods(O) clean.)(P)
20Â He went on: âWhat comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21Â For it is from within, out of a personâs heart, that evil thoughts comeâsexual immorality, theft, murder, 22Â adultery, greed,(Q) malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23Â All these evils come from inside and defile a person.â
Jesus Honors a Syrophoenician Womanâs Faith(R)
24Â Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g](S) He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25Â In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit(T) came and fell at his feet. 26Â The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27Â âFirst let the children eat all they want,â he told her, âfor it is not right to take the childrenâs bread and toss it to the dogs.â
28Â âLord,â she replied, âeven the dogs under the table eat the childrenâs crumbs.â
29Â Then he told her, âFor such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.â
30Â She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Jesus Heals a Deaf and Mute Man(U)
31Â Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre(V) and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee(W) and into the region of the Decapolis.[h](X) 32Â There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk,(Y) and they begged Jesus to place his hand on(Z) him.
33Â After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the manâs ears. Then he spit(AA) and touched the manâs tongue. 34Â He looked up to heaven(AB) and with a deep sigh(AC) said to him, âEphphatha!â (which means âBe opened!â). 35Â At this, the manâs ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.(AD)
36Â Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone.(AE) But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37Â People were overwhelmed with amazement. âHe has done everything well,â they said. âHe even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.â
Footnotes
- Mark 7:4 Some early manuscripts pitchers, kettles and dining couches
- Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13
- Mark 7:9 Some manuscripts set up
- Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16
- Mark 7:10 Exodus 21:17; Lev. 20:9
- Mark 7:16 Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.
- Mark 7:24 Many early manuscripts Tyre and Sidon
- Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities
Mark 7
King James Version
7Â Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2Â And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3Â For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4Â And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5Â Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6Â He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7Â Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8Â For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9Â And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10Â For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11Â But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12Â And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13Â Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
14Â And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15Â There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16Â If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17Â And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18Â And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19Â Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20Â And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21Â For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22Â Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23Â All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
24Â And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25Â For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26Â The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27Â But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28Â And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
29Â And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30Â And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
31Â And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32Â And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
33Â And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34Â And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35Â And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36Â And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37Â And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Mark 7
New King James Version
Defilement Comes from Within(A)
7Â Then (B)the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. 2Â Now [a]when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with (C)unwashed hands, [b]they found fault. 3Â For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands [c]in a special way, holding the (D)tradition of the elders. 4Â When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
5Â (E)Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, âWhy do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?â
6Â He answered and said to them, âWell did Isaiah prophesy of you (F)hypocrites, as it is written:
(G)âThis people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
7Â And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.â
8Â For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of menâ[d]the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.â
9Â He said to them, âAll too well (H)you [e]reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10Â For Moses said, (I)âHonor your father and your motherâ; and, (J)âHe who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.â 11Â But you say, âIf a man says to his father or mother, (K)âWhatever profit you might have received from me is Corbanâââ (that is, a gift to God), 12Â then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13Â making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.â
14Â (L)When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, âHear Me, everyone, and (M)understand: 15Â There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that (N)defile a man. 16Â (O)If[f] anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!â
17Â (P)When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18Â So He said to them, (Q)âAre you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19Â because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, [g]thus purifying all foods?â 20Â And He said, (R)âWhat comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21Â (S)For from within, out of the heart of men, (T)proceed evil thoughts, (U)adulteries, (V)fornications, murders, 22Â thefts, (W)covetousness, wickedness, (X)deceit, (Y)lewdness, an evil eye, (Z)blasphemy, (AA)pride, foolishness. 23Â All these evil things come from within and defile a man.â
A Gentile Shows Her Faith(AB)
24Â (AC)From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre [h]and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be (AD)hidden. 25Â For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and (AE)fell at His feet. 26Â The woman was a [i]Greek, a [j]Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept [k]asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27Â But Jesus said to her, âLet the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the childrenâs bread and throw it to the little dogs.â
28Â And she answered and said to Him, âYes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the childrenâs crumbs.â
29Â Then He said to her, âFor this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.â
30Â And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.
Jesus Heals a Deaf-Mute(AF)
31Â (AG)Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32Â Then (AH)they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33Â And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and (AI)He spat and touched his tongue. 34Â Then, (AJ)looking up to heaven, (AK)He sighed, and said to him, âEphphatha,â that is, âBe opened.â
35Â (AL)Immediately his ears were opened, and the [l]impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. 36Â Then (AM)He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37Â And they were (AN)astonished beyond measure, saying, âHe has done all things well. He (AO)makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.â
Footnotes
- Mark 7:2 NU omits when
- Mark 7:2 NU omits they found fault
- Mark 7:3 Lit. with the fist
- Mark 7:8 NU omits the rest of v. 8.
- Mark 7:9 set aside
- Mark 7:16 NU omits v. 16.
- Mark 7:19 NU sets off the final phrase as Markâs comment that Jesus has declared all foods clean.
- Mark 7:24 NU omits and Sidon
- Mark 7:26 Gentile
- Mark 7:26 A Syrian of Phoenicia
- Mark 7:26 begging
- Mark 7:35 Lit. bond
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Scripture taken from the New King James VersionŸ. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.