Devine Scripture

Mark 7:6

What does Mark 7:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:6 means

Jesus answers by calling them hypocrites and rightly quoting Isaiah: their worship honors God with lips while their hearts are distant. He accuses them of outward religiosity without inward devotion. The citation of Isaiah exposes the religious leaders’ spiritual failure: they know the forms but lack the transforming relationship with God. Jesus’ rebuke flips the conversation from external practice to internal faithfulness, indicting those who perform religion as an end rather than a reflection of a devoted heart.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, Well did Isaiah say of you, you false ones: These people give me honour with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he answering said to them--`Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, hypocrites, as it hath been written, This people with the lips doth honour Me, and their heart is far from Me;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But he answering said to them, Well did Esaias prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.

Context

This verse begins Jesus’ sharp retort to the Pharisees’ charge. Instead of defending his disciples’ behavior, he attacks the leaders’ spiritual condition, shifting the controversy from ritual washing to genuine worship. It marks a theological pivot: true honor to God is measured by the heart, not mere external conformity.

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?

v.6This passage

v.7But in vain do they worship me, Teachingas theirdoctrines the precepts of men.

Cross references

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

  • John 15:24

    If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

  • Hosea 8:2

    They shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee.

  • James 2:14

    What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.

  • Acts 28:25

    And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,

  • John 8:54

    Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;

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