Mark 7:7

Amplified Bible

-'THEY 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].'

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They worship me in vain,

King James Version (1611)
Howbeit in vaine doe they worship me, teaching for doctrines, the commandements of men.

King James Version
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

English Standard Version
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

New American Standard Bible
-'AND IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.'

New Century Version
Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are nothing but human rules.' Isaiah 29:13

New American Standard Bible (1995)
'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'

Legacy Standard Bible
But in vain do they worship Me,Teaching as doctrines the commands of men.'

Berean Standard Bible
They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.'

Contemporary English Version
It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans."

Complete Jewish Bible
Their worship of me is useless, because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.'

Darby Translation
But in vain do they worship me, teaching [as their] teachings commandments of men.

Easy-to-Read Version
Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are only human rules.'

Geneva Bible (1587)
But they worship me in vaine, teaching for doctrines the commandements of men.

George Lamsa Translation
And they worship me in vain, when they teach the doctrines of the commandments of men.

Good News Translation
It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!'

Lexham English Bible
And they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

Literal Translation
and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Isa. 29:13

American Standard Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

Bible in Basic English
But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules of men.

Hebrew Names Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the mitzvot of men.'

International Standard Version
Their worship of me is empty, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'Isaiah 29:13">[fn]

Etheridge Translation
But in vain do they reverence me while they teach the teachings of the commandments of men. [fn]

Murdock Translation
And in vain do they give me reverence, while teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howebeit, in vayne do they worship me, teachyng doctrines, the commaundementes of men.

English Revised Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

World English Bible
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Weymouth's New Testament
But idle is their devotion while they lay down precepts which are mere human rules.'

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and in veyn thei worschipen me, techinge the doctrines and the heestis of men.

Update Bible Version
But in vain they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.

Webster's Bible Translation
But, in vain do they worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men.

New English Translation
They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men .'

New King James Version
And in vain they worship Me,Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' Isaiah 29:13 ">[fn]

New Living Translation
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'

New Life Bible
Their worship of Me is worth nothing. They teach what men say must be done.'

New Revised Standard
in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, in vain, do they pay devotions unto me, teaching for teachings, the commandments of men;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.

Revised Standard Version
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
In vayne they worshippe me teachinge doctryns which are nothinge but ye comaundementes of men.

Young's Literal Translation
and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings, commands of men;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But in vayne do they serue me, whyle they teach soch doctrynes as are nothinge but the commaundemetes of me.

Mace New Testament (1729)
in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."

Simplified Cowboy Version
What they call church is just teaching a bunch of rules and stuff that they came up with. It's not about me.'

Contextual Overview

¹Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him, ²and 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]. ³(For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, holding firmly to the traditions of the elders; ⁴and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they 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.) ⁵So the Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus, "Why do Your disciples not live their lives according to the tradition of the elders, but [instead] eat their bread with [ceremonially] unwashed hands?" ⁶He replied, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders), as it is written [in Scripture], 'THESE PEOPLE HONOR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. ⁷-'THEY 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].' ⁸"You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling [faithfully] to the tradition of men." ⁹He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations. ¹⁰"For Moses said, 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER [with respect and gratitude]'; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF HIS FATHER OR MOTHER MUST BE PUT TO DEATH';

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in vain: 1 Samuel 12:21, Malachi 3:14, Matthew 6:7, Matthew 15:9, 1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Titus 3:9, James 1:26, James 2:20

the commandments: Deuteronomy 12:32, Colossians 2:22, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, Revelation 14:11, Revelation 14:12, Revelation 22:18

Reciprocal: Isaiah 8:20 - it is Isaiah 24:5 - changed Mark 7:3 - the tradition Luke 5:39 - General Acts 5:29 - We Titus 1:14 - commandments

Cross-References

Genesis 6:18
"But I will establish My covenant (solemn promise, formal agreement) with you; and you shall come into the ark—you and your [three] sons and your wife, and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you with all your household, for you [alone] I have seen as righteous (doing what is right) before Me in this generation.

Genesis 7:13
On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark,

Genesis 7:15
So they went into the ark with Noah, two by two of all living beings in which there was the breath and spirit of life.

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it], But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].

Matthew 24:38
"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah entered the ark,

Luke 17:27
the people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, [they were indifferent to God] until the day that Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Hebrews 6:18
so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us.

Hebrews 11:7
By faith [with confidence in God and His word] Noah, being warned by God about events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.

1 Peter 3:20
who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah's family], were brought safely through the water.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Howbeit, in vain do they worship me,.... This is the continuation of the citation out of Isaiah, as is also what follows:

teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. As all these traditions mentioned were such; as washing their hands before they ate bread, and their whole bodies, when they came from the market, or from any court of judicature, or concourse of men, where they had been touched by the common people, and the washing of cups, pots, brazen vessels, and tables, or beds; these they taught the people, and enjoined them the observance of them: instead of instructing them in the doctrines of the Bible, respecting the Messiah, and salvation by him, the right fear, and true worship of God, his ordinances and statutes; wherefore their worship of him, though attended with a great show of sanctity and religion, was a vain thing, a mere empty thing, devoid of life, power, and spirituality, unacceptable to God, and of no real use, profit, and advantage to themselves: it neither issued in the glory of God, nor brought any true pleasure, or solid peace to themselves; and they would find, by sad experience, that their hope of being in the favour of God, and of enjoying eternal happiness on account of it, would prove a vain hope; :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 15:1-20.

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 “up to the wrist” - unless they wash their hands up to the wrist. Others have said up to the elbow.” There is evidence that the Pharisees had some such foolish rule as this about washing, and it is likely that they practiced it faithfully. But the Greek Word πυγμή pugmē - means properly the “fist,” and the meaning here is, “Unless they wash their hands (rubbing them) with the fist” - that is, not merely dipping the finger or hands in water as a sign of ablution, but rubbing the hands together as a ball or fist, in the usual Oriental manner when water is poured over them. Hence, the phrase comes to mean “diligently, carefully, sedulously.” - Robinson, Lexicon. The idea is, unless they pay the utmost attention to it, and do it carefully and according to rule.

The tradition - What had been handed down; not what was delivered “by writing” in the law of Moses, but what had been communicated from father to son as being proper and binding.

The elders - The ancients; not the old men “then living,” but those who had lived formerly.

Mark 7:4

Market - This word means either the place where provisions were sold, or the place where men were convened for any purpose. Here it probably means the former.

Except they wash - In the original, “Except they baptize.” In this place it does not mean to immerse the whole body, but only the hands. There is no evidence that the Jews washed their “whole bodies” every time they came from market. It is probable that they often washed with the use of a very small quantity of water.

The washing of cups - In the Greek, “the baptism of cups.”

Cups - drinking vessels. Those used at their meals.

Pots - Measures of “liquids.” Vessels made of wood, used to hold wine, vinegar, etc.

brazen vessels - Vessels made of brass, used in cooking or otherwise. These, if much polluted, were commonly passed through the fire: if slightly polluted they were washed. Earthen vessels, if defiled, were usually broken.

Tables - This word means, in the original, “beds or couches.” It refers not to the “tables” on which they ate, but to the “couches” on which they reclined at their meals. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. These were supposed to be defiled when any unclean or polluted person had reclined on them, and they deemed it necessary to purify them with water. The word “baptism” is here used - in the original, “the baptism of tables;” but, since it cannot be supposed that “couches” were entirely “immersed” in water, the word “baptism” here must denote some other application of water, by sprinkling or otherwise, and shows that the term is used in the sense of washing in any way. If the word is used here, as is clear it is, to denote anything except entire immersion, it may be elsewhere, and baptism is lawfully performed, therefore, without immersing the whole body in water.

Mark 7:7

For doctrines - For commands of God binding on the conscience. Imposing “your” traditions as equal in authority to the laws of God.

Mark 7:8

Laying aside - Rejecting, or making, it give place to traditions; considering the traditions as superior in authority to the divine law. This was the uniform doctrine of the Pharisees. See the notes at Matthew 15:1-9.

The tradition of men - What has been handed down by human beings, or what rests solely on their authority.

Mark 7:9

Full well - These words are capable of different interpretations. Some read them as a question: “Do ye do well in rejecting?” etc. Others suppose they mean “skillfully, cunningly.” “You show great cunning or art, in laying aside God’s commands and substituting in their place those of men.” Others suppose them to be ironical. “How nobly you act! From conscientious attachment to your traditions you have made void the law of God;” meaning to intimate by it that they had acted wickedly and basely.

Mark 7:17

The parable - The “obscure” and difficult remarks which he had made in Mark 7:15. The word “parable,” here, means “obscure” and “difficult saying.” They could not understand it. They had probably imbibed many of the popular notions of the Pharisees, and they could not understand why a man was not defiled by external things. It was, moreover, a doctrine of the law that men were ceremonially polluted by contact with dead bodies, etc., and they could not understand how it could be otherwise.

Mark 7:18

Cannot defile him - Cannot render his “soul” polluted; cannot make him a “sinner” so as to need this purifying as a “religious” observance.

Mark 7:19

Entereth not into his heart - Does not reach or affect the “mind,” the “soul,” and consequently cannot pollute it. Even if it should affect the “body,” yet it cannot the “soul,” and consequently cannot need to be cleansed by a religious ordinance. The notions of the Pharisees, therefore, are not founded in reason, but are mere “superstition.”

The draught - The sink, the vault. “Purging all meats.” The word “purging,” here, means to purify, to cleanse. What is thrown out of the body is the innutritious part of the food taken into the stomach, and leaving only that which is proper for the support of life; and it cannot, therefore, defile the soul.

All meals - All food; all that is taken into the body to support life. The meaning is, that the economy or process by which life is supported “purifies” or “renders nutritious” all kinds of food. The unwholesome or innutritious parts are separated, and the wholesome only are taken into the system. This agrees with all that has since been discovered of the process of digestion and of the support of life. The food taken into the stomach is by the gastric juice converted into a thick pulp called chyme. The nutritious part of this is conveyed into small vessels, and changed into a milky substance called “chyle.” This is poured by the thoracic duct into the left subclavian vein and mingles with the blood, and conveys nutriment and support to all parts of the system. The useless parts of the food are thrown off.

Mark 7:20

Hat which cometh out of the man - His words; the expression of his thoughts and feelings; his conduct, as the development of inward malice, anger, covetousness, lust, etc.

Defileth the man - Makes him really polluted or offensive in the sight of God. This renders the soul corrupt and abominable in his sight. See Matthew 15:18-20.