Mark 7:2-4
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
2 And having seen some of His disciples, that they are eating their bread with defiled[a] hands, that is, unwashed[b]— 3 for the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands with a fist[c], holding-on-to the tradition of the elders. 4 And they do not eat [when they return][d] from the marketplace unless they cleanse[e] [themselves]. And there are many other traditions which they received to hold-on-to— the cleansing of cups and pitchers and copper-pots and couches[f].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Mark 7:2 Or, unclean; that is, not ritually purified from contact with unclean things or people, according to their traditions.
- Mark 7:2 Mark breaks off his sentence here and explains this to his readers, then begins again in v 5.
- Mark 7:3 There are different opinions about the exact procedure in view here. In any case it is a ceremonial washing for which the water is seen in Jn 2:6. Some manuscripts have a different word meaning ‘often’ or ‘thoroughly’.
- Mark 7:4 [when they return]...cleanse [themselves]. Or, [food]...cleanse [it].
- Mark 7:4 This refers to a ritual cleansing, as does the related word in the next verse.
- Mark 7:4 That is, the dining couches on which people of that day reclined to eat.
Mark 7:2-4
English Standard Version
2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were (A)defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly,[a] holding to (B)the tradition of (C)the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash.[b] And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as (D)the washing of (E)cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.[c])
Read full chapterDisciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
