Bible Commentaries
Mark 7

Verse 1

unto . Greek pros. App-104 .

Pharisees . See App-120 .

from = away from. Greek. apo App-104 .

Jerusalem . Their head-quarters. Compare Matthew 15:1 .

Verse 2

saw. Greek. eidon, App-133 .

defiled = not ceremonially cleansed.

that is to say . Explanation for Gentile readers.

Verse 3

For , &c. Mark 7:3-4 are interposed by the Figure of speech Parembole ( App-6 ).

wash . Greek. nipto. App-136 .

oft = diligently. Greek. pugme = with the fist. T reads pukna = often. Syr, reads

not . Greek. ou . App-105 .

holding = holding fast or firmly. Compare Hebrews 4:14 .Revelation 2:25 . Implying (here) determined adherence to.

elders . Always denoting in the Papyri an official class, whether sacred or secular.

Verse 4

when they come . Figure of speech Ellipsis (absolute). App-6 .

wash = wash themselves (ceremonially). Greek. baptizo. WH R margin read rhantizo = sprinkle (ceremonially). See App-136 . .

washing . The ceremonial cleansing effected by means of water (Numbers 8:6 , Numbers 8:7 ). Greek. baptismos = the act of cleansing: not baptisma = the rite or ceremonial of baptism, which is the word in all the other passages, except Mark 7:8 , and Hebrews 6:2 ; Hebrews 9:10 . See App-115 . .

pots . Greek. xestes . A Latin word (sextarius); a pitcher of any kind, holding about a pint. and of tables = and of couches. So Syriac.

Verse 5

according to . Greek. kata . App-104 .

Verse 6

Esaias = Isaiah. See App-79 .

of = concerning. Greek peri. App-104 .,

hypocrites . The definition of the word follows.

it is written = it standeth written.

This People, &c. Quoted from Isaiah 29:13 . See App-107 .

Verse 7

worship . Greek. sebomai. App-137 .

commandments = injunctions.

men. Greek plural of anthropos . App-123 .

Verse 8

laying aside = having forsaken. Same word as in Mark 1:18 , Mark 1:20 .

God. App-98 .

other . Greek. allos . App-124 .

Verse 9

Full well. Same as "Well" in Mark 7:6

reject = set aside.

keep = observe.

Verse 10

Moses . See note on Mark 1:44 .

Honour, &c. Quoted from Exodus 20:12 ; Exodus 21:17 .

die the death = surely die.

Verse 11

If. The condition being purely hypothetical. See App-118 .

Corhan = a gilt dedicated to God. A Divine supplement, giving the word and then translating it. See notes on Matthew 15:5 .Leviticus 1:2 .Ezekiel 40:43 .

by = from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 13

Making. of none effect = Making void, or annulling. Compare Matthew 15:6 .

the word of God . Notice the Lord's claim here for the Mosaic Law. Greek logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

ye have delivered. Note the Past Tense, thus identifying them with their forefathers. Compare Matthew 23:35 , "ye slew".

Verse 14

people = crowd.

every one of you = all. But there are many to-day who neither "hear" nor understand.

Verse 15

into. Greek. eis. App-104 .

can defile = is able to defile.

of = away from. Greek apo. App-104 .

Verse 16

If any man = If any one. See App-118 and App-142 . Assuming the hypothesis, the result being yet unfulfilled. T WH R omit Mark 7:16 . TR and A put it in brackets. But the Structure requires it; and the Syriac has it.

Verse 17

house. Supply the Ellipsis thus: "house [away] from".

His disciples . The third of the three parties addressed in this chapter. See verses: Mark 7:1 , Mark 7:14 , Mark 7:17 .

asked = began asking.

concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 , as in Mark 7:6 .

Verse 18

so . . . also = even so.

whatsoever thing from without = all [counted unclean] from without.

cannot = is not ( App-105 ) able to.

Verse 19

draught = sewer. Syriac reads "digestive process". purging all meats. Supply the Ellipsis thus (being the Divine comment on the Lord's words): "[this He said], making all meats clean", as in Acts 10:15 . The Syriac reads "carrying off all that is eaten": making it part of the Lord's parable.

Verse 20

And He said , &c. Note the Figure of speech Epimone. App-6 .

cometh = issueth,

out of. Greek. ek . App-101 .

Verse 21

evil . App-128 . Note the Figure Asyndeton, leading up to the climax in Mark 7:23 . Note that in the Greek the first seven are plural, and the other six singular,

thoughts = reasonings,

Verse 22

covetousness = covetous desires.

Wickedness = wickednesses. App-128 .

deceit = guile.

lasciviousness = licentiousness.

evil . App-128 .

evil eye . Figure of speech Catachresis. App-6 . Denoting envy, which proceeds out of the heart.

blasphemy = evil speaking in general. Matthew 27:39 . Romans 3:8 ; Romans 14:16 , 1 Peter 4:4 .

pride = haughtiness. Compare Proverbs 16:5 , Rom 12:16 , 1 Timothy 3:6 .

Verse 23

come = issue. A Divine supplement, here.

Verse 24

went = went away. See note on "withdrew", Mark 3:7 ; Mark 6:31 ,

would = wished to. App-102 .,

no man = no one.

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

Verse 25

For , &c. Connect this with Mark 7:24 , as being an evidence why He could not be hid.

young daughter. Greek. thugatrion = little daughter (Dim.) See Ch. Mark 5:23 .

spirit . Greek. pneuma. See App-101 . Compare Mark 7:26 .

at = towards. Greek. pros . App-104 .

Verse 26

The woman But (or Now) the woman.

Greek = Gentile, Greek. hellenis . Used in a general sense for non-Jewish.

Syrophenician . Phenicia in Syria, to distinguish it from Phenicia in North Africa (Libyo-Phenicia).

besought. App-134 . Not the same word as in Mark 7:22 .

the devil = the demon: the spirit of Mark 7:25 .

Verse 27

Jesus. App-98 .

Let the children first be filled. This is a summary of Matthew 15:23 , Matthew 15:24 , and a Divine supplement, here.

children . Greek. Plural of teknon. See App-108 . Not the same word as in Mark 7:28 .

meet = good,

dogs = little or domestic dogs. Greek. kunarion. Dim. of kuon . Occ, only here and Matthew 15:26 , Matthew 15:27 . These were not the pariah dogs of the street, but domestic pets.

Verse 28

answered and said . See notes on Deuteronomy 1:41 and on Matthew 15:26 , &c.

Lord. App-98 . B.

under the table . A Divine supplement, here.

children's. See App-108 . Not the same word as in Mark 7:27 .

Verse 29

And , &c. Verses Mar 29:30 are a Divine supplement, here.

For = Because, or on account of. Greek. dia . App-104 .Mark 7:2 .

Verse 30

to = into. Greek. eos . App-104 .

gone out : i.e. permanently (Perf. Tense).

her = the.

laid = thrown; by the convulsion. Compare Mark 1:26 ; Mark 9:20 .

upon . Greek. epi . App-104 .

Verse 31

from = out of. Greek ek. App-104 .

coasts = borders.

Galilee. See App-169 .

Verse 32

And Mark 7:32-37 are a Divine supplement, here.

deaf. impediment. Not horn deaf, and dumb in consequence; but the impediment may have come through subsequent deafness. He could speak, but with difficulty, through not being able to hear his own voice. Compare Mark 7:35 .

beseech. App-134 .; not the same word as in Mark 7:26 .

put = lay. Not the same word as in next verse.

Verse 33

multitude = crowd, same as "people" in Mark 7:14 .

put = thrust. Not the some word as in Mark 7:32 .

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), particularising each not.

Verse 34

heaven = the heaven. Singular. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10

sighs = groaned.

Ephphatha . An Aramaic word. See App-94 .

Verse 35

straightway = immediately. See note on Mark 1:10 , Mark 1:12 .

string = band. Not a physiological or technical ex pression, but the bond of demoniac influence which is thus indicated. The Papyri contain detailed prescriptions for "binding" a man; and cases are particu larly common in which a man's tongue is specially to be bound. See Prof. Deissmann's Light from the Ancient East, pp. 306-310. The Lord alludes to this in Luke 13:16 .

loosed . The demoniac's fetters were loosed, and the work of Satan was undone.

spake = began speaking.

plain = correctly. Denoting the fact of articulation, not the words spoken.

Verse 36

published = kept proclaiming. See App-121 .