Mark 7 6

Mark 7:6 kjv

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mark 7:6 nkjv

He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

Mark 7:6 niv

He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "?'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Mark 7:6 esv

And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Mark 7:6 nlt

Jesus replied, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.

Mark 7 verses

Mark 7 6 Meaning

Jesus responds to the Pharisees' accusation by quoting the prophet Isaiah, identifying them as hypocrites. The core meaning of the verse reveals a stark contrast between outward religious appearance and the true inner spiritual state. It exposes a form of worship that is merely verbal or ritualistic, lacking genuine devotion and a heart surrendered to God, thus rendering their worship meaningless and even offensive to God.

Mark 7 6 Context

Mark 7:6 is Jesus's direct and sharp retort to the Pharisees and some Scribes who had questioned His disciples' failure to follow the "tradition of the elders" concerning ritual handwashing before eating (Mark 7:1-5). They perceived this as uncleanness and a transgression against Mosaic law, although it was a man-made tradition rather than a divine commandment. Jesus uses this encounter not only to defend His disciples but more significantly to expose the core hypocrisy of the religious leaders. He challenges their legalism and meticulous adherence to external rituals, which had overshadowed and effectively nullified the weightier matters of God's commandments, demonstrating their profound spiritual distance from God despite their outward show of piety. This serves as a strong polemic against formalism, emphasizing that true godliness is a matter of the heart, not just external practice.

Mark 7 6 Word analysis

• He answered and said: (ἀποκριθείς, apokritheis; εἶπεν, eipen) This signifies a direct, emphatic response to the accusation. Jesus confronts their criticism head-on, turning the judgment back on them.
• Well: (Καλῶς, Kalōs) Means "rightly" or "correctly." Jesus confirms that Isaiah's ancient prophecy perfectly applies to the Scribes and Pharisees in their contemporary setting, indicating divine insight into their condition.
• did Isaiah prophesy: (Ἡσαΐας ἐπροφήτευσεν, Hēsaias eprophēteusen) Points to the divine origin and authoritative nature of the critique. Isaiah was a key prophet. Jesus identifies this specific prophecy (Isa 29:13) as fulfilled in them, validating His interpretation of their behavior.
• of you hypocrites: (περὶ ὑμῶν τῶν ὑποκριτῶν, peri hymōn tōn hypokritōn)
  • Hypocrites: (ὑποκριταῖς, hypokritais) Derived from Greek theater, referring to an actor wearing a mask to play a role. It signifies someone who pretends to be what they are not, especially in a religious context. It highlights their disingenuousness, superficiality, and spiritual insincerity, as their outward piety conceals an inner reality distant from God. This term becomes a recurring and damning descriptor for the religious leaders in the Gospels.
• as it is written: (ὡς γέγραπται, hōs gegraptai) A standard formula used to introduce a scriptural quotation. It underscores the authority of the Old Testament Scriptures and Jesus's recognition of their divine inspiration, lending weight to His indictment of the Pharisees by grounding it in God's eternal word.
• This people: (Ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, Ho laos houtos) Refers directly to the Scribes and Pharisees, identifying them with the unfaithful Israelites whom Isaiah condemned. It signifies a collective group, specifically those who were spiritually unresponsive.
• honors me with their lips: (τοῖς χείλεσίν με τιμᾷ, tois cheilesin me tima)
  • Honors: (τιμᾷ, tima) To revere, worship, give homage.
  • Lips: (χείλεσίν, cheilesin) A metonymy for outward, verbal expression, prayers, pronouncements, or ritualistic declarations. It emphasizes that their devotion is superficial, confined only to words without genuine heart engagement.
• but their heart is far from me: (ἡ δὲ καρδία αὐτῶν πόρρω ἀπέχει ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, hē de kardia autōn porrō apechei ap' emou)
  • Heart: (καρδία, kardia) In biblical thought, not merely the physical organ, but the seat of intellect, will, emotion, conscience, and moral character—the very core or inner being of a person. It represents the source of one's deepest motives, affections, and commitment.
  • Far: (πόρρω, porrō) Denotes spiritual distance and detachment. It illustrates a complete lack of internal alignment with God's will and true love for Him, despite outward displays. This contrast between outward show ("lips") and inner reality ("heart") is central to Jesus's critique and a recurring theme in the New Testament.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites": This phrase highlights Jesus's divine authority and insight. He uses prophecy not as a historical reference but as a living condemnation, demonstrating that the Scribes and Pharisees perfectly embody the spiritual malady Isaiah addressed centuries prior. It is an indictment of spiritual insincerity, revealing Jesus's deep understanding of the human heart and His willingness to directly confront religious pretense.
  • "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me": This central antithesis epitomizes the very essence of hypocrisy. It sets up a contrast between external ritual or verbal worship and genuine, internal devotion. It powerfully states that God is concerned not merely with outward conformity or vocal praise, but with the authentic allegiance and love from the core of one's being. When the heart is not truly aligned with God, all external expressions become empty and valueless.

Mark 7 6 Bonus section

This verse underscores a critical biblical principle: God looks beyond the surface. He evaluates the intent of the heart rather than merely the outward performance or adherence to regulations. This perspective reveals that a religious person can be the most ungodly in God's eyes if their heart is alienated from Him, even while performing all the prescribed religious duties. Jesus consistently challenged external righteousness, demanding authentic internal transformation. His confrontation with the Pharisees here illustrates a deeper truth that the spirit of the law, characterized by love and true devotion, outweighs strict obedience to the letter of the law, especially when those "letters" are human inventions.

Mark 7 6 Commentary

Mark 7:6 serves as Jesus's trenchant rebuke to the religious establishment, exposing their spiritual fraudulence. By quoting Isaiah 29:13, He unmasks their hypocrisy: their meticulous adherence to man-made traditions and their outward show of piety were nothing more than "lip service." Their hearts—the very core of their being, their intentions, affections, and will—were far from God. This verse clarifies that true religion is not about external rituals or human traditions, no matter how strictly observed, but about an inward relationship with God. God desires sincerity, devotion, and a heart transformed by His will, rather than mere outward compliance or pretense. This teaching remains critical for understanding true worship and guarding against the dangers of religious formalism.