The big picture
Mark 7 opens in verse 1 with “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the…”, and closes in verse 37 with “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both…” Repeated or prominent terms include tradition, daughter, defile, father, mother. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Mark · King James Version · 37Mark 7:1-8
1–8: Came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which…
Mark 7:1–8 opens with “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from…” and reaches “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed, with particular weight carried by hands, Pharisees, tradition.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things…” It lands on “For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses with a speech marker, 1 question, 3 stated contrasts, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
What Jesus says and does, how each person responds, and how the scene advances toward the cross and resurrection give the passage its shape. Words such as hands, Pharisees, tradition, bread, cups, disciples tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Pharisees, Esaias, God, Howbeit, Jerusalem, Jews. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 5: “Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: hands, Pharisees, tradition, bread, cups, disciples
Verse-by-verse path
- Mark 7:1
“Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.” Naming Jerusalem and Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:2
“And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, defiled, disciples. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:3
“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Mark 7:4
“And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have…” The line’s distinctive content terms include brasen, cups, except. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:5
“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Mark 7:6
“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth…” Naming Esaias and Well keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:7
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Naming Howbeit keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:8
“For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Mark 7:1-8
King James Version1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4And 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.
5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6He 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.
7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:9-16
9–16: He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye…
Mark 7:9–16 opens with “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own…” and reaches “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed, with particular weight carried by father, mother, defile.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;” It lands on “If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 3 verses with a speech marker, 2 stated contrasts, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
What Jesus says and does, how each person responds, and how the scene advances toward the cross and resurrection give the passage its shape. Words such as father, mother, defile, hear, tradition, commandment tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Corban, Full, Hearken, Honour, Making. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: father, mother, defile, hear, tradition, commandment
Verse-by-verse path
- Mark 7:9
“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Naming Full keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:10
“For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Mark 7:11
“But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Mark 7:12
“And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;” The line’s distinctive content terms include father, mother, suffer. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:13
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do…” Naming Making keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:14
“And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Mark 7:15
“There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him…” The line’s distinctive content terms include defile, entering, nothing. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:16
“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.” The line’s distinctive content terms include hear, ears. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.
Mark 7:9-16
King James Version9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
14And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Mark 7:17-24
17–24: When he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked…
Mark 7:17–24 opens with “And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the…” and reaches “And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed, with particular weight carried by evil, defile, entered.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning…” By verse 20, the text has turned to “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.” It lands on “And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses with a speech marker, 2 questions, 2 stated contrasts. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
What Jesus says and does, how each person responds, and how the scene advances toward the cross and resurrection give the passage its shape. Words such as evil, defile, entered, entereth, heart, house tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include All, Are, Because, Sidon, Thefts, Tyre. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 19: “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: evil, defile, entered, entereth, heart, house
Verse-by-verse path
- Mark 7:17
“And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.” The line’s distinctive content terms include asked, concerning, disciples. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:18
“And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Mark 7:19
“Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- Mark 7:20
“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cometh, defileth. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:21
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Mark 7:22
“Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:” Naming Thefts keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:23
“All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:24
“And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no…” Naming Sidon and Tyre keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Mark 7:17-24
King James Version17And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18And 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;
19Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
24And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
Mark 7:25-32
25–32: For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard…
Mark 7:25–32 opens with “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell…” and reaches “And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed, with particular weight carried by daughter, devil, children’s.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and…” By verse 28, the text has turned to “And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the…” It lands on “And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 3 verses with a speech marker, 1 stated contrast. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
What Jesus says and does, how each person responds, and how the scene advances toward the cross and resurrection give the passage its shape. Words such as daughter, devil, children’s, coasts, dogs, gone tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Decapolis, Galilee, Greek, Jesus, Lord, Sidon. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 27: “But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: daughter, devil, children’s, coasts, dogs, gone
Verse-by-verse path
- Mark 7:25
“For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Mark 7:26
“The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her…” Naming Greek and Syrophenician keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:27
“But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:28
“And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.” Naming Yes keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:29
“And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.” The line’s distinctive content terms include daughter, devil, gone. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:30
“And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include daughter, devil, gone. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:31
“And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the…” Naming Decapolis and Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:32
“And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Mark 7:25-32
King James Version25For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.
29And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
31And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
32And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
Mark 7:33-37
33–37: He took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears…
Mark 7:33–37 opens with “And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and…” and reaches “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed, with particular weight carried by charged, ears, opened.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit…” By verse 35, the text has turned to “And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake…” It lands on “And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 stated contrast. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
What Jesus says and does, how each person responds, and how the scene advances toward the cross and resurrection give the passage its shape. Words such as charged, ears, opened, tongue, aside, astonished tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Ephphatha. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 35: “And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: charged, ears, opened, tongue, aside, astonished
Verse-by-verse path
- Mark 7:33
“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;” The line’s distinctive content terms include aside, ears, fingers. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:34
“And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.” Naming Ephphatha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Mark 7:35
“And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ears, loosed, opened. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Mark 7:36
“And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Mark 7:37
“And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include astonished, both, deaf. Its relationship to verses 36 shows what work it does in this passage.
Mark 7:33-37
King James Version33And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
34And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
35And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
36And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
37And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Watch what Jesus says and does, and how people respond.
- Trace kingdom, discipleship, opposition, cross, and resurrection in the evangelist’s own sequence.
- Let later doctrine clarify the scene without erasing its immediate setting.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Mark 7?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Mark 7 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?
