MAT 15:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT “Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

UST “Your apprentices do not cleanse their hands before they eat. So, they are disobeying the teachings we received from our ancestors. They should not do that!”

BLB "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they shall eat bread."

AICNT “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash {when they eat bread with their hands}.”[fn]

15:2, when they eat bread with their hands: Other manuscripts read “their hands when they eat bread.”

OEB ‘How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food.’

WEBBE “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat.”

LSV “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.”

FBV “Why do your disciples break the tradition of our forefathers by not washing their hands before they eat a meal?”

TCNT “Why do yoʋr disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

T4T “◄We think it is disgusting that your disciples disobey the traditions of our ancestors!/Why do your disciples disobey what our ancestors wrote down and our elders taught us?► [RHQ] They do not perform the proper ritual of washing their hands before they eat!”

LEB “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat _⌊a meal_⌋.”[fn]

15:2 Literally “bread”

BBE Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? for they take food with unwashed hands.

Moff "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they take their food."

Wymth "Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders by not washing their hands before meals?"

ASV Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

DRA Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

YLT 'Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

Drby Why do thy disciples transgress what has been delivered by the ancients? for they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

RV Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
(Why do thy/your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. )

SLT Wherefore do thy disciples pass by the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Wbstr Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

KJB-1769 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
(Why do thy/your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. )

KJB-1611 Why do thy disciples transgresse the tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their handes when they eat bread.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps Why do thy disciples transgresse the traditions of the elders? for they washe not their handes when they eate bread.
(Why do thy/your disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.)

Gnva Why do thy disciples transgresse the tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their hands when they eate bread.
(Why do thy/your disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. )

Cvdl Why do thy disciples transgresse ye tradicions of the elders? for they wash not their hodes whan they eate bred.
(Why do thy/your disciples transgress ye/you_all traditions of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.)

TNT why do thy disciples transgresse the tradicions of the elders? for they wesshe not their hondes when they eate breed.
(why do thy/your disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat breed. )

Wycl Whi breken thi disciplis the tradiciouns of eldere men? for thei waisschen not her hondis, whanne thei eten breed.
(Why broken thy/your disciples the traditions of elder men? for they washing not her hands, when they eaten breed.)

Luth Warum übertreten deine Jünger der Ältesten Aufsätze? Sie waschen ihre Hände nicht, wenn sie Brot essen.
(Why transgressed your disciple the/of_the elders traditions/essays? They/She wash their/her hands not, when they/she/them bread eat.)

ClVg Quare discipuli tui transgrediuntur traditionem seniorum? non enim lavant manus suas cum panem manducant.[fn]
(Why students yours(sg) transgrediuntur tradition of_the_elders? not/no because lavant hands their_own when/with bread/food they_eat. )

15.2 Non enim lavant. Intus nihil arguunt, qui intus livore polluti sunt. In vanum quidem sua baptismata servant, qui suorum cordium et corporum sordes abluere negligunt.

15.2 Not/No because lavant. Intus nothing they_argue, who/which inside/within bruise polluted are. In vain indeed his_own baptisms servant, who/which of_his_own heart and of_bodies dirt/filth abluere they_neglect.

UGNT διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσιν τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων? οὐ γὰρ νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.
(dia ti hoi mathaʸtai sou parabainousin taʸn paradosin tōn presbuterōn? ou gar niptontai tas ⱪeiras hotan arton esthiōsin.)

SBL-GNT Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσιν τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων; οὐ γὰρ νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας ⸀αὐτῶν ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.
(Dia ti hoi mathaʸtai sou parabainousin taʸn paradosin tōn presbuterōn; ou gar niptontai tas ⱪeiras ⸀autōn hotan arton esthiōsin.)

RP-GNT Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσιν τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων; Οὐ γὰρ νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν, ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.
(Dia ti hoi mathaʸtai sou parabainousin taʸn paradosin tōn presbuterōn; Ou gar niptontai tas ⱪeiras autōn, hotan arton esthiōsin.)

TC-GNT Διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσι τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων; Οὐ γὰρ νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας [fn]αὐτῶν, ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν.
(Dia ti hoi mathaʸtai sou parabainousi taʸn paradosin tōn presbuterōn; Ou gar niptontai tas ⱪeiras autōn, hotan arton esthiōsin. )

15:2 αυτων ¦ — WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 15:1–20: The deeds that make someone unclean in God’s eyes

Over the years, Jewish religious leaders added many oral rules to God’s written laws. The Pharisees and teachers of the law considered these oral rules (also called traditions) to be as important as God’s written laws. One of their rules was that a person must wash his hands a certain way before he ate food. If a Jew did not follow this rule before he ate, they considered him ceremonially “unclean.” This meant that they did not allow him to worship God in public for a certain amount of time. Jesus made it clear that there was something far more important than how a person washed his hands. The important thing was the condition of his heart.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus Challenges the Pharisees’ Traditions (GW)

Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity/Cleanliness

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 7:1–23 and Luke 11:37–39.

15:2a–b

(reordered) Your disciples do not wash their hands before they eat. Why do they break the tradition of the elders like that?

Before you translate 15:2, think about the most natural order for 2a and 2b. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2b first. For example:

^2bYour disciples do not wash their hands before they eat! ^2aWhy do they break the tradition of the elders like that?

15:2a

“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?

“Why do your disciples not follow/obey the traditions/teachings of our^(incl) ancestors?
“Your disciples do not do what our ancestors taught us to do. Why?
“Your disciples break/disobey the customs of our forefathers.

Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a rebuke. The Pharisees and scribes who came to Jesus rebuked/scolded him because they believed that his disciples broke the tradition of the elders.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

As a rhetorical question. For example:
Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
Your disciples break the tradition of the elders. Why?
As a statement. For example:
Your disciples break the tradition of the elders!
Your disciples should not break the tradition of the elders!

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

break: The Greek word that the BSB translates as break also means “disobey.” Use a verb in your language that refers to not following a tradition or custom.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

do not keep/follow

do not obey

the tradition of the elders: This phrase refers to the oral laws/rules that Jewish elders had added to the written law of Moses. These oral laws had been added and taught over a period of centuries. The Pharisees believed that it was as important to keep these oral laws as it was to keep the written law of Moses.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the traditions of our ancestors (GW)

the laws/rules that come from our forefathers

the customs/teachings of our fathers

what our ancestors taught us to do (CEV)

the elders: Here the word elders refers to Jewish religious leaders of earlier generations. These religious leaders passed down their teachings to the Jews of later generations.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

ancestors (GNT)

forefathers

15:2b

They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

We ask/say this because they do not wash their hands before they eat.”
They do not wash their hands according to our customs before they eat.”
Before they eat, they do not wash their hands in the proper/correct way.”

The Greek begins this clause with a conjunction that is often translated as “For.” It indicates that 15:2b is the reason for the question in 15:2a.

Here is another way to introduce this reason:

We ask this because

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. This is what the BSB and NIV do.

They do not wash their hands before they eat: This sentence means that the disciples did not follow the elders’ rules. They did not wash/rinse their hands before they ate in the way that their ancestors said that they should. One of the teachings of the elders was to ceremonially rinse their hands before meals. They poured water over each hand in a certain way. Then they considered their hands to be ceremonially clean. That way, the food would remain ceremonially clean when they touched it and ate it.

The law of Moses did not require people to wash their hands in this way. This was one of the traditions that the elders added to the law.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

They don’t wash their hands in the proper way before they eat! (GNT)

Before they eat, they do not follow the correct way to wash their hands.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

διὰ τί οἱ μαθηταί σου παραβαίνουσιν τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων?

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Διά τί οἱ μαθηταί σοῦ παραβαίνουσιν τήν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων οὒ Γάρ νίπτονται τάς χεῖρας ὅταν ἄρτον ἐσθίωσιν)

The Pharisees are using the question form to rebuke Jesus for what his disciples are doing. If you would not use the question form for this purpose in your language, you could translate this as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Your disciples should not transgress the tradition of the elders!] or [We are shocked that your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders.]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σου

Here, the word your is singular since the Pharisees and scribes are speaking to Jesus.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων

Here, the scribes and Pharisees are using the possessive form to describe a tradition that came from the elders. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the tradition given to us by the elders] or [the tradition handed down to us by the elders]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὴν παράδοσιν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of tradition, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [what the elders taught us]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῶν πρεσβυτέρων

˱of˲_the elders

Here, the word elders refers to respected ancestors whose teaching is trusted. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [of the ancestral teachers] or [of our respected forefathers]

Note 6 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

Here, the word For introduces an explanation of how the disciples are transgressing the tradition. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [They do that when] or [Here is how they do that:]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐ & νίπτονται τὰς χεῖρας

Here the scribes and Pharisees are referring to how they would wash their hands with water to make them ritually or ceremonially clean. See the chapter introduction for more information about this kind of washing. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [they do not ceremonially wash their hands with water]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἄρτον

bread

The scribes and Pharisees are using bread to represent any food. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [food] or [anything]

Parallel MAT 15:2

Section 15:1–20: The deeds that make someone unclean in God’s eyes

15:2a–b

15:2a

15:2b