Devine Scripture

Mark 7:13

What does Mark 7:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:13 means

Jesus charges that by such traditions they make the word of God void, even while teaching these human rules to others. He condemns leaders who, under the guise of piety, override divine requirements. The observation that they have “delivered” these traditions emphasizes their authority and culpability. Jesus warns that religious instruction that contradicts Scripture harms the community and corrupts covenantal obligations, calling for integrity between God’s revealed will and religious practice.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Making the word of God of no effect by your rule, which you have given: and a number of other such things you do.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

setting aside the word of God for your tradition that ye delivered; and many such like things ye do.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Making void the word of God by your own tradition, which you have given forth. And many other such like things you do.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

making void the word ofGod by your traditional teaching which ye have delivered; and many such like things ye do.

Context

This verse concludes the Corban illustration and sums up the charge: tradition has become authoritative enough to cancel God’s commands. It prepares the public address to the crowd in verses 14–23 where Jesus will teach about what truly defiles a person, shifting the debate from external ritual to inner morality.

v.12ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;

v.13This passage

v.14And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hosea 8:12

    I wrote for him the ten thousand things of my law; but they are counted as a strange thing.

  • Matthew 15:6

    he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.

  • Jeremiah 8:8

    How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.

  • Ezekiel 18:14

    Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins, which he hath done, and feareth, and doeth not such like;

  • Galatians 5:21

    envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • Isaiah 8:20

    To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

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