Mark 7 17

Mark 7:17 kjv

And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

Mark 7:17 nkjv

When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.

Mark 7:17 niv

After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.

Mark 7:17 esv

And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable.

Mark 7:17 nlt

Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used.

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 17 Meaning

After leaving the public setting of a large crowd, Jesus entered a private house, where His disciples sought clarity regarding the radical teaching He had just delivered. They were particularly puzzled by His statement that what defiles a person comes from within, rather than from outside, as this directly challenged long-held Jewish traditions regarding ceremonial purity and dietary laws. Their private inquiry indicates a desire for deeper understanding of concepts too profound for the general public, revealing their need for further instruction on the spiritual meaning behind external regulations.

Mark 7 17 Context

Mark 7:17 marks a pivotal transition in Jesus' discourse on defilement. Immediately prior, Jesus publicly engaged with the Pharisees and scribes who challenged His disciples for not observing the ceremonial washing of hands before eating, as per their tradition (Mk 7:1-5). Jesus rebuked them, citing Isaiah's prophecy about their hypocrisy and devotion to human traditions over God's commands (Mk 7:6-13). He then called the crowd and delivered a profoundly radical teaching (Mk 7:14-16), stating, "There is nothing outside a person that by entering him can defile him; but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." This declaration directly undermined the elaborate purity laws related to food and external practices that were central to Jewish religious life. The disciples, along with the crowd, likely found this statement deeply confusing, as it seemed to contradict fundamental Mosaic Law. Therefore, their private questioning of Jesus in the house is a direct response to their bewilderment and an opportunity for Jesus to expound upon the true meaning of spiritual purity.

Mark 7 17 Word analysis

• "When He had entered": eisēlthen (εἰσῆλθεν, aorist indicative of eiserchomai, "to come in, go in"). Signifies a definitive entry, transitioning from a public space to a private one.
• "the house": oikon (οἶκον, from oikos, "house, home, dwelling"). Implies a private residence, distinct from the outdoor crowd. This is a common setting for Jesus' deeper instruction to His disciples (e.g., Mk 4:10, 34). It offers intimacy and freedom for profound theological dialogue away from critical eyes.
• "and left the crowd": apo tou ochlou (ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄχλου). Ochlos refers to the multitude or throng, typically a diverse, sometimes superficial, audience. Jesus frequently withdrew from the ochlos to offer more specific teaching to His dedicated followers. This separation creates a protected environment for discipleship.
• "His disciples": hoi mathētai autou (οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ). Mathētai refers to learners or pupils. They are distinct from the general crowd, indicating a closer relationship with Jesus and a deeper commitment to understanding His teachings.
• "asked Him": epērōtōn auton (ἐπηρώτων αὐτὸν, imperfect indicative of eperōtaō, "to ask, question, inquire"). The imperfect tense can suggest a sustained, repeated, or persistent inquiry, indicating their significant confusion and earnest desire for clarification. Their questioning highlights the revolutionary nature of Jesus' prior statement regarding defilement.
• "about the parable": tēn parabolēn (τὴν παραβολήν, "the parable"). This is not a typical narrative parable, but an aphoristic statement or profound saying (Mk 7:15). It functions as an enigmatic riddle that requires explanation due to its radical implications. The disciples recognized its parabolic nature, signifying hidden meaning, hence their need for an explanation.

Words-group analysis:

• "When He had entered the house and left the crowd": This phrase emphasizes a shift in setting, indicating a move from public teaching (where understanding is often limited to superficial concepts) to private, intimate instruction. This pattern of Jesus explaining deeper truths to His disciples in solitude is characteristic of the Gospels. It underscores that spiritual truths often require personal revelation and are not always grasped by general audiences.
• "His disciples asked Him about the parable": This shows the disciples' developing, yet incomplete, understanding. They acknowledge Jesus' statement as a "parable," implying a deeper truth or hidden meaning that was not immediately clear. Their seeking clarification validates Jesus' earlier point in Mark 4:11-12, that parables conceal truth from outsiders while revealing it to those given to understand. It also highlights the challenging nature of Jesus' teaching, even for those closest to Him, demonstrating how revolutionary His message about internal purity was against prevailing cultural norms.

Mark 7 17 Bonus section

The "parable" in this context (Mark 7:15) is unique, as it's not a narrative story but a maxim or an enigma. Jesus frequently used such concise, potent statements that demanded deeper thought and often confused His hearers. This specific maxim about defilement was truly ground-breaking, as it effectively set the stage for declaring all foods clean (Mk 7:19b, "Thus he declared all foods clean"). This seemingly simple act of the disciples asking for clarification within a private home signifies the inception of a paradigm shift crucial for the New Covenant, moving away from a ritualistic, outward focus of the Law to a transformative, inward purity of the heart. The disciples' question reflects not just their individual curiosity but also the collective struggle of a people steeped in a covenant that highly valued external distinctions.

Mark 7 17 Commentary

Mark 7:17 depicts a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry where the teaching on external versus internal defilement transitions from public proclamation to private instruction. The "house" provides an intentional retreat for concentrated learning, a common pedagogical method for Jesus to explain profound spiritual truths away from the skepticism or limited comprehension of the general populace. The disciples, although familiar with Jesus' teachings, were profoundly perplexed by His bold assertion that food does not defile, challenging centuries of Jewish dietary laws and purification rituals. Their collective questioning reveals the magnitude of this teaching's impact; it wasn't just a simple saying but a revolutionary principle that uprooted the very foundations of traditional purity understanding. Jesus' explanation that follows is a redefinition of true defilement, shifting the focus from external adherence to inward purity of heart and thought. This is a radical reinterpretation of the Mosaic Law's spirit over its letter, affirming that true sin originates from the corrupt desires within, not from what one consumes.