Devine Scripture

Mark 7:4

What does Mark 7:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:4 means

This verse expands the catalogue of ritual washings: bathing after the marketplace and washing of vessels like cups, pots, and brassware. These customs formed a comprehensive system of purity covering people and objects. The list shows how tradition regulated everyday life. The point is not to deny that such habits existed, but to show the wide net of customs that could overshadow the law’s intent, implying a potential for tradition to dominate conscience and religious duty.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and when they come from the marketplace, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and when they come from the marketplace, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when they come from the market-place, they take no food till their hands are washed; and a number of other orders there are, which have been handed down to them to keep--washings of cups and pots and brass vessels.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and, <FI>coming<Fi> from the market-place, if they do not baptize themselves, they do not eat; and many other things there are that they received to hold, baptisms of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and couches.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots and of brazen vessels and of beds.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and [on coming] from the market-place, unless they are washed, they do not eat; and there are many other things which they have received to hold, the washing of cups and vessels, and brazen utensils, and couches),

Context

Following the statement about handwashing, this verse broadens the reader’s view of the many traditional washings. It prepares us for Jesus’ critique that traditions can become burdensome or contrary to God’s commands. The mention of vessels anticipates Jesus later speaking about what truly defiles a person.

v.3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;

v.4This passage

v.5And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?

Cross references

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

  • Job 9:30

    If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

  • Jeremiah 4:14

    O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine evil thoughts lodge within thee?

  • James 4:8

    Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.

  • Matthew 23:25

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.

  • Psalms 26:6

    I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;

  • Luke 11:38

    And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.

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