Mark 7 4

Mark 7:4 kjv

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Mark 7:4 nkjv

When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

Mark 7:4 niv

When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

Mark 7:4 esv

and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. )

Mark 7:4 nlt

Similarly, they don't eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to ? such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles. )

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 4 Meaning

Mark 7:4 describes the strict adherence of certain Jewish groups, particularly the Pharisees, to a complex system of ritual purity, known as the "tradition of the elders." This verse highlights two key aspects of these traditions: the necessity of ceremonial washing upon returning from the marketplace to avoid defilement, and the meticulous cleansing of common household items such as cups, pots, metal vessels, and even dining couches. These practices went beyond the written Mosaic Law, representing an intricate extension of purity rules aimed at sanctifying daily life, especially before meals, which were seen as having sacred significance.

Mark 7 4 Context

Mark chapter 7 begins with a direct confrontation between Jesus' disciples and the Pharisees and scribes. The issue at hand is the disciples' failure to observe the "tradition of the elders" concerning the ceremonial washing of hands before eating, as described in verse 3. Verse 4 then elaborates on the extent of these extra-biblical traditions, providing specific examples beyond hand-washing, such as the purification of objects used in daily life. This verse serves to vividly illustrate the zealous commitment of the Pharisees to these intricate rules, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent strong critique that human traditions, when elevated, can nullify God's commands and misdirect the focus from true spiritual purity of the heart to mere external ritual. Historically, these oral traditions became integral to daily Jewish life, especially among Pharisees, who aimed to apply the stringent purity standards of priests in the Temple to every Jew's life.

Mark 7 4 Word analysis

• "and when they come from the marketplace" (ἀπὸ ἀγορᾶς - apo agoras):

  • Word: agora (ἀγορᾶς) means a public gathering place, town square, or marketplace.
  • Significance: It was a place of common interaction, where one might come into contact with Gentiles or "common people" ('am ha'aretz) who were not meticulous about purity, thereby incurring ritual defilement. This made the subsequent washing necessary to the Pharisees.

• "unless they wash" (μὴ βαπτίσωνται - mē baptisōntai):

  • Word: From baptizō, meaning "to immerse," "to dip."
  • Significance: This is distinct from simple hand-washing (νίπτομαι - niptomai, used in Mk 7:3). Baptizō suggests a more complete, ceremonial cleansing, perhaps involving an immersion of the whole body, to remove ritual impurity contracted in the public sphere. It highlights the thoroughness required by these traditions. It refers to a ritual cleansing and is not the Christian act of baptism.

• "they do not eat" (οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν - ouk esthiousin):

  • Significance: This demonstrates the absolute necessity of these purifications according to the Pharisees' view. Eating, especially a communal meal, without having undergone the required cleansing was considered a transgression of their religious custom, risking defilement of the food and company.

• "And there are many other traditions that they observe" (καὶ ἄλλα πολλὰ ἔστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν - kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratein):

  • Word: ethos (ἔθη), refers to customary practices, conventions, or traditions. kratein (κρατεῖν) means "to hold fast, adhere to, observe rigorously."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes that hand-washing was just one small part of an extensive and demanding set of oral traditions that the Pharisees had inherited and zealously maintained. It foreshadows Jesus' later critique of prioritizing human rules over divine commands.

• "such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches" (βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων καὶ κλινῶν - baptismous potērion kai xestōn kai chalkiōn kai klinōn):

  • Word: baptismos (βαπτισμούς), noun form of baptizō, refers to various kinds of ceremonial washings or immersions for purification. This is distinct from baptisma, the technical term for Christian baptism.
  • "cups" (ποτηρίων): Common drinking vessels.
  • "pots" (ξεστῶν): Specifically, these were jars or pitchers, perhaps of a specific size, often associated with a certain measure.
  • "copper vessels" (χαλκίων): Refers to any implements made of bronze or copper.
  • "dining couches" (κλινῶν): Recliners on which people reclined while eating.
  • Significance of the group: The meticulous cleansing of everyday objects, including furniture, vividly illustrates the comprehensive and sometimes extreme lengths to which the Pharisees applied their purity regulations. Impurity was not limited to direct contact with food or persons but extended to the entire domestic environment and even non-food items, revealing the pervasive nature of these human traditions in their lives. The mention of "dining couches" specifically is striking, indicating that ritual defilement could extend even to the furniture used during meals, demanding a thorough cleansing process for these as well.

Mark 7 4 Bonus section

• Mishnaic Parallels: The practices detailed in Mark 7:4, though preceding the formal codification of the Mishnah, find extensive parallels in later Rabbinic literature, particularly in tractates like Yadayim (referring to handwashing), Tohorot (purities), and Kelim (vessels). This validates Mark's accuracy in portraying the prevalent customs of the day, particularly among the Pharisees.
• The Nuance of "Washing": The Greek term baptizō used here and baptismous for the noun forms, are not to be confused with Christian baptism (baptisma). The distinction is crucial; here, it refers strictly to ritualistic cleansing for purity in the Jewish context, whereas Christian baptism carries the theological significance of repentance, identification with Christ, and initiation into His body. Mark's usage deliberately maintains this separation.
• "Dining Couches" vs. "Tables": The KJV translates "klinōn" as "tables," which can be misleading. "Klinōn" precisely refers to couches or recliners upon which guests reclined while partaking in meals, a common practice in the Roman and Hellenistic worlds. The impurity of such a significant piece of furniture during dining emphasizes the pervasive nature of these purity concerns beyond simple food handling.
• The 'Am Ha'aretz': The market context implies contact with the 'Am Ha'aretz', the common people of the land, whom the Pharisees viewed as unobservant of the purity laws and therefore potentially a source of defilement. The elaborate washings were a means of self-separation and maintaining ritual distinctiveness.

Mark 7 4 Commentary

Mark 7:4 provides specific, tangible examples of the "tradition of the elders" to which the Pharisees rigorously adhered. It expands on the idea of ceremonial hand-washing (v. 3) by noting the necessity of personal immersion after marketplace interaction (to remove potential contact impurity from non-observant individuals) and, remarkably, the ritual purification of various household items like cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and even the couches upon which they reclined during meals. These elaborate and self-imposed rules highlight a religious system intensely focused on external purity and scrupulous observance of tradition, believing such actions contributed to holiness before God. Mark's detailed enumeration of these practices underscores their burden and sets the crucial background for Jesus' profound critique, which argues that true defilement comes not from external contact or unclean objects, but from the sin and malice that originate from within the human heart. This verse therefore functions as a critical evidentiary list of the traditions Jesus came to challenge.