Devine Scripture

Mark 7:12

What does Mark 7:12 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:12 means

Here Jesus notes the result: once someone designates their possessions as Corban, they no longer allow themselves to help their parents. The legal declaration becomes an excuse for failing in a basic moral obligation. Jesus is condemning a system that sanctifies selfishness. The point is that religious formalism can render people unloving and irresponsible, contradicting the relational ethics Scripture intends to promote and revealing that true righteousness must include concrete care for family.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and no more do ye suffer him to do anything for his father or for his mother,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And further you suffer him not to do any thing for his father or mother,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And ye no longer suffer him to do anything for his father or his mother;

Context

This verse continues the Corban example, showing its practical consequence. It connects with the earlier claim that tradition is displacing God’s commands and shows how ordinary life is affected. The following verse will broaden the critique to similar practices and emphasize how tradition can nullify God’s word.

v.11but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God;

v.12This passage

v.13making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.

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