Devine Scripture

Mark 7:18

What does Mark 7:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:18 means

Jesus expresses mild rebuke at his disciples’ lack of understanding and begins his clarification: things that enter from outside cannot defile because they don’t touch the heart. His question ‘Are ye so without understanding?’ underscores their need to think beyond ritual form. Jesus teaches that moral contamination depends on inner dispositions, not physical intake. By addressing them personally, he indicates that this truth is foundational for discipleship and for how they’ll live and teach within the community of believers.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to them, Have even you so little wisdom? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside is not able to make him unclean,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he saith to them, `So also ye are without understanding! Do ye not perceive that nothing from without entering into the man is able to defile him?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he saith to them: So are you also without knowledge? Understand you not that every thing from without entering into a man cannot defile him:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he says to them, Are ye also thus unintelligent? Do ye not perceive that all that is outside entering into the man cannot defile him,

Context

This verse starts the private explanation that follows the public pronouncement. It confronts the disciples’ limited perspective and prepares them for a physiological and moral explanation: food goes to the belly and leaves, whereas what matters is what comes from the heart. The flow moves toward a list of inward sins.

v.17And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable.

v.18This passage

v.19because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean.

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 5:11

    Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.

  • Matthew 15:16

    And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding?

  • 1 Corinthians 3:2

    I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;

  • Matthew 16:11

    How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

  • Jeremiah 5:4

    Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, nor the law of their God:

  • John 3:10

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?

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