God’s Word Translation
Mark 7:3
3(The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don’t eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors.
Mark 7:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
- New International Version (NIV)(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
- English Standard Version (ESV)(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders,
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders.
Context of Mark 7:3
1The Pharisees and some experts in Moses’ Teachings who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. 2They saw that some of his disciples were unclean because they ate without washing their hands. (The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don’t eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors. 4When they come from the marketplace, they don’t eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.) 5The Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
Read all of Mark 7Mark 7:3 word by word
οἱ γὰρ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ πάντες οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι ἐὰν μὴ πυγμῇ νίψωνται τὰς χεῖρας, οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν κρατοῦντες τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- the Phariseesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- the JewsἸουδαῖοςIoudaios · JewG2453
- exceptἐάνean · ifG1437
- exceptμήmē · notG3361
- they washνίπτωniptō · to washG3538
- handsχείρcheir · handG5495
- oftπυγμήpugmē · fistG4435
- eatἐσθίωesthiō · to eatG2068
- notοὐou · noG3756
- holdingκρατέωkrateō · to grasp/seizeG2902
- the traditionπαράδοσιςparadosis · traditionG3862
- of the eldersπρεσβύτεροςpresbuteros · elder (leader)G4245
Cross-references for Mark 7:3
- Mark 7:7Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.’
- Matthew 15:2“Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”
- Galatians 1:14You also heard how I was far ahead of other Jews in my age group in following the Jewish religion. I had become that fanatical for the traditions of my ancestors.
- Colossians 2:8Be careful not to let anyone rob you ⌞of this faith⌟ through a shallow and misleading philosophy. Such a person follows human traditions and the world’s way of doing things rather than following Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:18Realize that you weren’t set free from the worthless life handed down to you from your ancestors by a payment of silver or gold which can be destroyed.
Commentaries on Mark 7:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Except they wash their hands - ͅ, the hand to the wrist - Unless they wash the hand up to the wrist, eat not. Several translations are given of this word; that above is from Dr. Lightfoot, who quotes a tradition from the rabbins, stating that the hands were to be thus washed. This sort of washing was, and still continues to be, an act of religion in the eastern countries. It is particularly commanded in the Koran, Surat v. ver. 7, "O believers, when ye…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-23Verses 1-23 See this passage explained in the notes at Mark 7:1 Came from Jerusalem - Probably to observe his conduct, and to find matter of accusation against him. Mark 7:2 Defiled hands - The hands were considered defiled or polluted unless they were washed previous to every meal. Mark 7:3 Except they wash their hands oft - Our word “oft” means frequently, often. The Greek wore translated oft has been rendered various ways. Some have said that it means…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-4Mark explains the Pharisees’ practices of ritual cleansing (ceremonial washing for religious purity) for his non-Jewish (Gentile) audience. The traditions of the elders were not yet written down at that time. The Pharisees believed these teachings had been given to Moses on Mount Sinai along with the written law. These traditions were later written down around AD 200 in the Mishnah (a collection of Jewish teachings and laws). The Mishnah is one of the…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 7:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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