Devine Scripture

Mark 7:9

What does Mark 7:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 7:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 7:9 means

Jesus reiterates the charge: they reject God’s commandment to preserve their tradition. He exposes how their system allows people to evade responsibilities under the guise of piety. The phrase shows that the leaders’ system is not neutral—it's constructed to protect certain values, often at the cost of justice or familial duty. Jesus’ words call for repentance from religious practices that obscure the moral demands of God’s law and elevate human rules above divine obligations.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to them, Truly you put on one side the law of God, so that you may keep the rules which have been handed down to you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said to them, `Well do ye put away the command of God that your tradition ye may keep;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said to them: Well do you make void the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to them, Well do ye set aside the commandment ofGod, that ye may observe what is delivered by yourselves [to keep].

Context

This verse transitions to a specific illustration of the problem—how the leaders’ teaching undermines the Mosaic command to honor parents. It readies the reader for Jesus’ example from everyday life that illustrates the larger principle of tradition replacing God’s law.

v.8Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.

v.9This passage

v.10For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death:

Cross references

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

  • Romans 3:31

    Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.

  • Jeremiah 44:16

    As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee.

  • Daniel 11:36

    And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.

  • Daniel 7:25

    And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.

  • Mark 7:3

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

  • Isaiah 29:13

    And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them;

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