Devine Scripture

Mark 7:20

What does Mark 7:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:20 means

Jesus reiterates the main point: what comes out of a person is what defiles them. This statement turns attention from external observance to internal moral condition. It signals that words, actions, and attitudes that arise from the heart are the real indicators of purity or impurity. Jesus emphasizes responsibility for inner life because outward behavior flows from inner sources; cleansing the heart is therefore central for righteousness and community holiness.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, That which comes out of the man, that makes the man unclean.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said--`That which is coming out from the man, that doth defile the man;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said that the things which come out from a man, they defile a man.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, That which goes forth out of the man, that defiles the man.

Context

Following his argument that external things don’t defile, Jesus restates the theme to ensure the disciples grasp it. This sets up the enumerated list of sins that flow from the heart in verses 21–23, which will illustrate concretely what he means by the things that ‘proceed out of the man.’

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.

v.20This passage

v.21For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

Cross references

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

  • James 1:14

    but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

  • Psalms 41:6

    And if he come to see me, he speaketh falsehood; His heart gathereth iniquity to itself: When he goeth abroad, he telleth it.

  • Hebrews 7:6

    but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

  • James 3:6

    And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

  • Matthew 12:34

    Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

  • Mark 7:15

    there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

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