Mark 7 14

Mark 7:14 kjv

And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

Mark 7:14 nkjv

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand:

Mark 7:14 niv

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.

Mark 7:14 esv

And he called the people to him again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand:

Mark 7:14 nlt

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand.

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 14 Meaning

Mark 7:14 serves as a pivotal moment where Jesus shifts his audience from the confrontational Pharisees and scribes to the general crowd, calling them to gather and deeply internalize a fundamental spiritual truth. He emphatically commands them not only to listen attentively to his words but also to genuinely comprehend the radical message he is about to reveal concerning the true source of defilement and purity. This invitation underscores the universal relevance and urgency of understanding a principle that challenges established religious traditions and redefines true righteousness before God.

Mark 7 14 Context

Mark 7:14 is a critical transitional verse in Jesus' ministry. It immediately follows an intense theological confrontation (vv. 1-13) where Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes about their religious traditions, specifically handwashing, and exposes their hypocrisy in valuing human tradition over God's commandments (e.g., Korban vow). Having publicly debunked their external ceremonialism and legalistic interpretations, Jesus deliberately turns from these resistant religious leaders to address the common people, "the crowd." This shift signifies his intent to move beyond polemics with religious elite and directly communicate foundational spiritual truth to those who were open to hearing. Historically, Jewish society placed significant emphasis on purity laws and oral traditions (halakhah), meticulously passed down. Jesus' upcoming teaching (in vv. 15-23), prepared for by this summons, directly challenges the core assumptions of what constitutes 'purity' within that deeply embedded cultural and religious framework, redefining it from outward adherence to inward disposition.

Mark 7 14 Word analysis

• And (Καί - Kai): A simple conjunction connecting this action to the preceding dialogue. It signifies a continuous narrative flow, despite the shift in audience.
• calling (προσκαλεσάμενος - proskalesamenos): Aorist participle, meaning "having called to himself." This verb signifies a deliberate and intentional summons, often used for Jesus calling people for special instruction or mission (e.g., Mk 3:13 - calling the twelve; Mk 8:34 - calling the crowd and disciples). It indicates Jesus' initiative in gathering his new audience for an important announcement.
• the crowd (τὸν ὄχλον - ton ochlon): Refers to the general populace, distinct from the antagonistic religious leaders. Jesus frequently taught and ministered to "the crowd," representing those often marginalized or misled by religious elites, but also open to new teaching. This distinguishes his approach: while some leaders oppose, the general public is still being offered truth.
• to him (αὐτῷ - autō): Emphasizes that Jesus gathers them around himself, highlighting his central authority and the personal nature of the instruction he is about to impart.
• again (πάλιν - palin): Indicates that Jesus has called the crowd to him before (e.g., Mk 2:13; Mk 3:7, 20). This repetition underscores Jesus' regular pattern of public teaching and implies a pedagogical continuity in his ministry, though the content of this teaching is radically new.
• he said (ἔλεγεν - elegen): Imperfect tense, suggesting a continuous or customary action of speaking to them, but here it marks the beginning of a specific, crucial discourse.
• to them (αὐτοῖς - autois): Simple pronoun indicating the immediate audience, "the crowd."
• “Hear (Ἀκούσατέ - Akousate): An imperative verb, "You all listen!" or "Hear ye!" This is a forceful command, demanding not just casual listening but attentive, serious reception of the message. It often prefaces significant teachings of Jesus (cf. Matt 11:15). It’s an invitation to engage spiritually.
• me (μου - mou): The genitive pronoun linked with "hear" emphasizes the specific speaker, "Hear from me," highlighting Jesus' authority as the source of this revelatory truth, distinct from the Pharisees' traditions.
• all of you (πάντες - pantes): A crucial qualifier. This truth is not just for disciples or the learned, but universally applies to every individual in the crowd, reinforcing its broad impact and foundational nature, overturning selective purity.
• and (Καὶ - Kai): Simple conjunction.
• understand” (συνίετε - syniete): Another imperative, "You all understand!" This goes beyond mere intellectual hearing to demand deep spiritual comprehension and discernment. It implies the need for spiritual insight to grasp the radical nature of the teaching. The Pharisees often "heard" but did not "understand" (Matt 13:13-15). Jesus challenges them to actively process and grasp the implication of what he says.

• "And calling the crowd to him again": This phrase highlights Jesus' intentional shift from confronting the religious leaders to addressing the general public. It's a strategic pedagogical move to democratize truth, ensuring his critical message reaches beyond hostile ears to a more receptive, yet perhaps still tradition-bound, audience. The "again" underscores his regular practice of teaching crowds, framing this moment as part of his consistent public ministry.
• "Hear me, all of you, and understand": This combined imperative constitutes a powerful and urgent summons. "Hear" signifies a call for attentive reception, distinguishing it from superficial listening. "All of you" emphasizes the universal applicability and importance of the truth that follows, a departure from exclusionary interpretations of religious law. "Understand" goes beyond intellectual grasp, requiring spiritual discernment and a willingness to accept a revolutionary paradigm shift. It is a demand for a spiritual 'aha!' moment that redefines their perception of defilement.

Mark 7 14 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of "hearing" (ἀκούω - akouō) and "understanding" (συνίημι - syniēmi) is a recurrent theme in the Gospels, particularly when Jesus speaks about parables or challenging truths. Hearing might be mere auditory reception, but understanding requires spiritual insight and a willing heart. The crowds in Mark 7:14 are challenged to not merely listen to the sound of Jesus' voice, but to internalize the profound theological implication of his words – that ritual defilement is secondary to the defilement of the heart. This call to understanding also foreshadows the disciples' own struggle to fully grasp Jesus' teachings (Mk 7:18-19, where even they struggle with the meaning) and the hardness of heart experienced by those who refuse to understand (cf. Mk 3:5). Jesus' teaching here implicitly sets purity in a new theological framework, prioritizing the inward condition over external ceremonial compliance, thereby laying groundwork for the eventual re-evaluation of Mosaic purity laws in the New Covenant.

Mark 7 14 Commentary

Mark 7:14 serves as a dramatic and decisive turning point in Jesus’ public teaching. Following his direct condemnation of the Pharisees and scribes for prioritizing human traditions over divine commands, Jesus intentionally summons the diverse crowd. This shift in audience is significant: it signals his desire to teach foundational spiritual truth not merely to an opposing elite, but to all who would listen. His double command to "Hear me, all of you, and understand" underscores the profundity and universal importance of the forthcoming teaching (vv. 15-23). "Hear" implies attentive, receptive listening, while "understand" demands spiritual comprehension—a grasp that transforms one’s worldview, recognizing that true defilement comes not from external food or ritual impurity, but from the wicked thoughts and intentions of the heart. This verse establishes the authority of Jesus as the ultimate interpreter of purity and righteousness, calling all to look beyond external practices to the internal state of the soul for genuine holiness before God. It sets the stage for a message that would profoundly reorient their understanding of God's will and their relationship with Him.