Mark 7 15

Mark 7:15 kjv

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

Mark 7:15 nkjv

There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

Mark 7:15 niv

Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them."

Mark 7:15 esv

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him."

Mark 7:15 nlt

It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart. "

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 15 Meaning

Mark 7:15 profoundly shifts the understanding of defilement from external sources and ceremonial observances to the internal moral state of an individual. It declares that nothing that enters a person from outside can truly defile them in God's sight; rather, it is the wicked thoughts, intentions, and actions originating from within the human heart that constitute genuine spiritual uncleanness. This statement directly challenged the prevailing religious views that emphasized ritual purity.

Mark 7 15 Context

Mark 7:15 is central to Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees and some scribes who had come from Jerusalem to Galilee. The conflict began because Jesus' disciples ate bread with "unwashed hands," meaning they did not perform the elaborate ritual hand-washing traditions observed by the Pharisees before eating, which were part of their oral law, not direct biblical commands. The Pharisees equated this omission with defilement (Mk 7:1-5).

In response, Jesus directly addresses the crowd, explaining the true nature of purity. He first quotes Isa 29:13 to expose their hypocrisy: they honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him, nullifying God's commandment for the sake of their human traditions (Mk 7:6-13). Verse 15 then articulates the revolutionary principle that dismantles their rigid, externalistic view of purity. He later elaborates on this point to His disciples in private (Mk 7:17-23), clearly listing the vices that emerge from the heart (evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, etc.) as the true sources of defilement. The historical and cultural context is one where outward ritual purity and adherence to numerous traditions were seen by many, especially the Pharisees, as the pathway to holiness, overshadowing the internal state of one's heart and moral character.

Mark 7 15 Word analysis

• There is nothing outside: (οὐδέν ἔξωθεν, ouden exōthen). Emphasizes the source of defilement. "Nothing" indicates a categorical exclusion. It’s an absolute statement challenging established norms.
• a person: (τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, tou anthrōpou). Refers to humanity in general. This applies to everyone, transcending social or religious status.
• that by going into him: (εἰσπορευόμενον εἰς αὐτὸν, eisporeuomenon eis auton). Pertains specifically to food and other ingested or external elements that were traditionally thought to cause ritual impurity, such as contact with unclean objects. "Going into" highlights the external entry point.
• can defile him: (δύναται κοινῶσαι αὐτόν, dynatai koinōsai auton). "Can defile" (κοινῶσαι, koinōsai) means to make common, to render unholy or ritually unclean. Jesus asserts that external things lack the inherent power to corrupt a person’s moral or spiritual state before God. It implies that true defilement is of a different nature.
• but: (ἀλλά, alla). A strong adversative conjunction. It marks a sharp contrast and shifts the focus from external to internal.
• the things that come out: (τὰ ἐκπορευόμενα, ta ekporeuomena). This refers to words, actions, and intentions, which originate from within a person’s being. "Come out" signifies externalized manifestations of the inner state.
• of a person: (ἐκ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ek tou anthrōpou). Reinforces that the source is internal, from one’s core.
• are what defile him: (ταῦτά ἐστιν τὰ κοινοῦντα τὸν ἄνθρωπον, tauta estin ta koinounta ton anthrōpon). This definitive declaration asserts that genuine defilement comes solely from one’s inner self—thoughts, motives, and subsequent behaviors—as later enumerated in Mk 7:21-23. The focus shifts entirely to the heart as the root of moral impurity.

• "There is nothing outside a person... can defile him": This phrase directly confronts and nullifies the ceremonial dietary and washing laws of the Old Covenant and the additional traditions that held food and external contact could render a person unclean. It pronounces a new era of understanding purity.
• "but the things that come out of a person are what defile him": This contrasts sharply, redirecting focus to moral evil. It identifies the human heart, thoughts, and intentions as the true source of all that pollutes a person in God's eyes. It redefines holiness not as ritual adherence but as inward purity and outward righteous behavior flowing from it.

Mark 7 15 Bonus section

This verse carries significant theological weight as it implicitly prepares the way for the full abolition of the Mosaic dietary laws, paving the path for the inclusion of Gentiles into the New Covenant without requiring them to become Jewish converts first. It moves the conversation from the physical and ceremonial to the ethical and spiritual, redefining the essence of "clean" and "unclean" for God's people under the new dispensation inaugurated by Christ. Jesus’ statement, especially when elaborated in Mk 7:18-23, points to humanity’s deepest problem as residing in the sinful heart, making divine grace and spiritual regeneration paramount. It critiques legalism and highlights that genuine relationship with God is always heart-deep.

Mark 7 15 Commentary

Mark 7:15 serves as a watershed statement in Jesus' ministry, re-establishing the foundational truth that spiritual purity emanates from within, not from adherence to external rites or avoiding certain foods. This declaration overturns centuries of religious tradition and practices that centered on external observance as the path to righteousness. Jesus teaches that God's primary concern is not with what we eat or touch, but with the state of our hearts, from which all intentions, good or evil, originate.

The profound implication is that sin is not external, but internal. It flows from a defiled heart, manifested in thoughts, words, and actions like murder, theft, and envy, as detailed by Jesus later in Mark 7:21-23. This truth necessitates an internal transformation, a change of heart, which aligns with the New Covenant promise of God writing His law on hearts. For practical usage, this means striving for inner renewal over outward show. For instance, prioritizing true forgiveness for someone who wronged us (internal) rather than just politely avoiding conflict (external). Or, choosing humility and honest giving (internal) over public displays of charity (external). It emphasizes that true faith manifests in an upright character and loving deeds, not merely in adherence to rules or rituals.