MARK 7:4 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 and from a marketplace, they do not eat unless they baptize, and there are many other things which they received to hold to: baptisms of cups and pitchers and copper vessels[fn]—

UST Also, when they come home from the open areas in their towns, they always cleanse themselves before they eat food. They have many other similar teachings. For example, they cleanse many different kinds of dishes and containers.

BSB And [on returning] from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, [including] the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.[fn]

MSB And [on returning] from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, [including] the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.[fn]

BLB and on coming from the market, they do not eat unless they wash; and there are many other things which they received, for them to hold to--washings of cups and vessels and utensils and couches for dining.

AICNT and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash themselves; and there are many other things that they have received to hold, washings of cups and pots and bronze vessels [and beds])[fn] –

7:4, and beds: NA28[] SBLGNT ‖ Absent from some manuscripts is this additional phrase about the purification of “beds” or “dining couches.” THGNT

OEB When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).

WEBBE They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)

WMBB (Same as above)

NET And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches. )

LSV and [coming] from the marketplace, if they do not immerse themselves, they do not eat; and many other things there are that they received to hold, immersions of cups, and pots, and bronze vessels, and couches.

FBV In the same way, they don't eat when they return from the market until they have had a wash. They observe many other rituals, like the washing of cups, pots, and pans.)[fn]

7:4 While hygienic, the focus was on making sure everything was ceremonially clean.

TCNT And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have [fn]washed. There are also many other traditions they observe, such as the washing of cups, [fn]pots, copper vessels, and dining couches.)

7:4 washed 78.4% • MSS 15.6% ¦ sprinkled themselves WH 3.4%

7:4 pots, copper vessels, and dining couches 98.6% ¦ pots and copper vessels TH WH 0.6%

T4T 2-4 The Pharisees and all of the other Jews strictly observe the traditions that their ancestors taught. For example, they refuse to eat until they first wash their hands with a special ritual, especially after they return from buying things in the marketplace. They think that God will be angry with them if they do not do that, because some person or thing unacceptable to God might have touched ◄them/the things they bought►. There are many other such traditions that they accept and try to obey. Specifically, they wash in a special way their cups, pots, kettles, containers, and beds in order that using these things will not make God reject them.

LEB And when they come[fn] from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions[fn] which they have received and[fn] hold fast to—for example,[fn] the washing of cups and pitchers and bronze kettles and dining couches.)[fn]

7:4 The phrase “when they come” is not in the Greek text but is implied

7:4 *The word “traditions” is not in the Greek text but is implied

7:4 *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have received”) has been translated as a finite verb

7:4 The phrase “for example” is not in the Greek text but is supplied as a clarification in the English translation

7:4 Several important manuscripts omit “and dining couches”

BBE 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.

Moff they decline to eat what comes from the market till they have washed it; and they have a number of other traditions to keep about washing cups and jugs and basins [and beds].)

Wymth and when they come from market they will not eat without bathing first; and they have a good many other customs which they have received traditionally and cling to, such as the rinsing of cups and pots and of bronze utensils, and the washing of beds.)

ASV 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.)

DRA 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.

YLT and, [coming] 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.

Drby 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),

RV and when they come from the marketplace, except they wash themselves, they eat not: and many other things there be, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.
(and when they come from the marketplace, except they wash themselves, they eat not: and many other things there be, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and bronze vessels. )

SLT And from the market-place, except they be immersed, they eat not. And there are many other things which they received to hold; the immersion of cups, and of measures, and of brazen vases, and of chairs.)

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

KJB-1769 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.
(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, bronze vessels, and of tables. )

KJB-1611 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eate not. And many other things there be, which they haue receiued to hold, as the washing of cups and [fn]pots, brasen vessels, and of [fn]tables.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

7:4 Or, beds.

7:4 Sextarius, is about a pinte and an halfe.

Bshps And when they come from the market, except they wasshe, they eate not. And many other things there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue as the wasshyng of cuppes and pottes, and brasen vessels, and of tables.
(And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe as the washing of cups and pots, and bronze vessels, and of tables.)

Gnva And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eate not: and many other things there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue, as the washing of cups, and pots, and of brasen vessels, and of beds.)
(And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not: and many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups, and pots, and of bronze vessels, and of beds.) )

Cvdl And whan they come from the market, they eate not, excepte they wasshe. And many other thynges there be, which they haue taken vpon them to obserue, as the washinge of cuppes and cruses, and brasen vessels and tables.
(And when they come from the market, they eat not, except they wash. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and clay_pots, and bronze vessels and tables.)

TNT And when they come from the market except they washe they eate not. And many other thinges ther be which they have taken apon them to observe as the wasshinge of cuppes and cruses and of brasen vessels and of tables.
(And when they come from the market except they wash they eat not. And many other things there be which they have taken upon them to observe as the washing of cups and clay_pots and of bronze vessels and of tables. )

Wycl And whanne thei turnen ayen fro chepyng, thei eten not, but thei ben waisschen; and many other thingis ben, `that ben taken `to hem to kepe, wasschyngis of cuppis, and of watir vessels, and of vessels of bras, and of beddis.
(And when they turn again from shopping, they eaten not, but they been washing; and many other things been, that been taken to hem to keep, washings of cup, and of water vessels, and of vessels of brass, and of beds.)

Luth Und wenn sie vom Markt kommen, essen sie nicht, sie waschen sich denn. Und des Dings ist viel, das sie zu halten haben angenommen, von Trinkgefäßen und Krügen und ehernen Gefäßen und Tischen zu waschen.
(And when they/she/them from_the marketplace coming, eat they/she/them not, they/she/them wash itself/yourself/themselves because/than. And the things is many, the they/she/them to/for hold/keep have assumed, from drinking_vessels and jugs and brazen vessels/containers and tables to/for wash.)

ClVg et a foro nisi baptizentur, non comedunt: et alia multa sunt, quæ tradita sunt illis servare, baptismata calicum, et urceorum, et æramentorum, et lectorum:[fn]
(and from forum except be_baptised/immersed, not/no they_eat: and other fine are, which handed_down are to_them to_keep, baptisms chalice/cup, and of_pots, and of_brass, and readers: )

7.4 Baptismata. Frustra vasorum baptismata servant, qui cordium suorum et corporum sordes negligunt. Non enim hoc de materialibus manibus dictum est, sed pro mentium emundatione, et operum castigatione, et animarum sanctimonia et salute.

7.4 Baptismata. In_vain of_vessels baptisms servant, who/which heart of_his_own and of_bodies dirt/filth they_neglect. Not/No because this from/about materialibus hands said it_is, but for mentium cleansione, and works chastisesione, and of_souls holiness/integrity and salute.

UGNT καὶ ἀπ’ ἀγορᾶς ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν, καὶ ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν, βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων.)
(kai ap’ agoras ean maʸ baptisōntai ouk esthiousin, kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratein, baptismous potaʸriōn kai xestōn kai ⱪalkiōn.))

SBL-GNT καὶ ἀπʼ ⸀ἀγορᾶς ἐὰν μὴ ⸀βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν, καὶ ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν, βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων ⸂καὶ κλινῶν⸃—
(kai apʼ ⸀agoras ean maʸ ⸀baptisōntai ouk esthiousin, kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratein, baptismous potaʸriōn kai xestōn kai ⱪalkiōn ⸂kai klinōn⸃—)

RP-GNT καὶ ἀπὸ ἀγορᾶς, ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται, οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν· καὶ ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν, βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων καὶ κλινῶν.
(kai apo agoras, ean maʸ baptisōntai, ouk esthiousin; kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratein, baptismous potaʸriōn kai xestōn kai ⱪalkiōn kai klinōn.)

TC-GNT καὶ [fn]ἀπὸ ἀγορᾶς, ἐὰν μὴ [fn]βαπτίσωνται, οὐκ ἐσθίουσι· καὶ ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν, βαπτισμοὺς ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ [fn]χαλκίων καὶ κλινῶν.
(kai apo agoras, ean maʸ baptisōntai, ouk esthiousi; kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratein, baptismous potaʸriōn kai xestōn kai ⱪalkiōn kai klinōn. )

7:4 απο ¦ απ CT

7:4 βαπτισωνται 78.4% ¦ βαπτισονται MSS 15.6% ¦ ραντισωνται WH 3.4%

7:4 χαλκιων (χαλκειων PCK) και κλινων 98.6% ¦ χαλκιων TH WH 0.6%

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

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–23: Jesus explained what makes a person unclean

This section (7:1–23) deals with the difference between ritual uncleanness and real moral uncleanness. Ritual uncleanness is external, but real uncleanness involves the inner being of a person. Mark introduced this topic by describing an incident in which the Pharisees and teachers of the law rebuked Jesus. They did this because his disciples ate without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish tradition (7:1–5).

Jesus did not respond to their rebuke directly. Instead, he gave an example of how these leaders ignored God’s law in order to follow their own traditions (7:6–13). Jesus then explained to the crowd that true uncleanness in God’s sight is not caused by external things. It is not caused by things such as food going into the body. True uncleanness is caused by sinful things that a person does or says. Those things come from a person’s inner being (7:14–23).

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Ritual uncleanness is not what causes God to consider a person unclean

Jesus teaches about what defiles a person

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 15:1–20 and Luke 11:37–39.

Paragraph 7:1–5

In the first paragraph of this section, Mark introduced the topic of ritual uncleanness. He did this by telling an incident in which the Pharisees and teachers of the law rebuked Jesus. They rebuked him because his disciples had not followed the Jewish tradition of washing their hands in a special way before they ate.

In the middle of this paragraph (7:2b–4), Mark explained some of these Jewish traditions. He did this so that his readers would understand why the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders were upset with Jesus and questioned him.

In Greek, 7:2–5 forms one long sentence. The RSV has a long sentence in 7:3–4, and the BSB has a long sentence in 7:1–2. In your translation, use sentences that are a normal length in your language.

7:4a–b

And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash: In Greek this verse is literally, “and from the market unless they wash they do not eat.” In this context scholars interpret the phrases from the market and unless they wash in different ways. As a result, there are two ways to interpret the verse:

The phrase from the market means when they come from the market.A few Greek manuscripts actually include the words “when they come.” However, there are many more manuscripts that do not include these words, and these include the oldest and most reliable manuscripts. (Metzger page 80, Swanson page 105.) The UBS4 (page 145) follows the manuscripts that do not include “when they come,” giving this decision an A rating, indicating that the text is virtually certain. It is probable that the English versions that have “When they come” translate that way for stylistic rather than textual reasons, that is, they are trying to express interpretation (2) in natural English. The verse means that when they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash themselves first. For example, the NET says:
And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. (BSB, NIV, RSV, GW, NET, NASB, KJV, NJB, ESV)
The phrase from the marketplace refers to something that comes from the market. The verse means that when they buy something from the market, they do not eat it unless they wash it first.The NLT follows the view that they do not eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. For example, the NRSV says:
and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it (GNT, NRSV, CEV, JBP, REB, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Here are some other ways to translate this:

After they come from the market, they always ritually wash themselves before they eat.

When they come home from the marketplace, they do not eat until they purify themselves with a ritual washing.

7:4a

And on returning from the market,

When they buy something from the marketplace,
When they buy some food at/in the marketplace/bazaar,

market: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as market means a large, open area where people came to buy and sell things. The word market means the same thing as “marketplace.”

The plural of this term, “marketplaces,” was first used in 6:56b. You could use the singular form of that term here.

7:4b

they do not eat unless they wash.

they do not eat the food until they have washed their hands properly.
they always wash according to the custom/ritual before they eat it.

they do not eat unless they wash: As in 7:3b–c, it may be natural to translate this as a positive statement:

they always wash before they eat

they must wash before they eat

they do not eat: In some languages a verb like eat needs to indicate what is eaten. If that is true in your language, use a general term like “food” or “anything.” For example:

they do not eat any food

they: The pronoun they refers to the Pharisees and other Jewish people.

unless they wash: The phrase unless they wash gives a necessary condition. In this context, it means that the Jews believed that they ought to wash their hands before they ate. And so this is what they always did.

they wash: The Greek word that the BSB translates as wash refers to a ceremonial washingThere is a textual issue here: (1) Most Greek manuscripts have a verb that literally means “they baptize/immerse/wash themselves.” This refers to a ceremonial washing. The NCV says: “they never eat it until they wash themselves in a special way” (BSB, NIV, NET, GW, KJV, REB, NCV, NLT). (2) Some Greek manuscripts have a verb that literally means, “they sprinkle themselves.” The NJB has: “they never eat without first sprinkling themselves” (NJB, JBP, NASB, RSV). It is recommended that you follow option (1). It has the support of the majority of Greek manuscripts and English versions. It is given a B rating in the UBS4 (page 145), indicating that the text is almost certain. However, both words have almost the same meaning in this context. to make people ritually pure. The form of the verb here means “they wash themselves.” Scholars are not certain whether “they wash themselves” refers to washing their whole body or just their hands. Use a general term, if possible.

Some ways to translate “they wash themselves” are:

Use an expression that emphasizes that it is a ritual or ceremonial washing. For example:
they wash themselves in a special way (NCV)
they cleanse themselves (NASB)
Use a general expression like wash. For example:
they do not eat unless they wash (NET)
they never eat without first washing (REB)

7:4c

And there are many other traditions for them to observe,

They also carefully follow many other traditions about the proper way
There are also many other customs of their ancestors that they follow/obey

And: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as And here introduces some more information on the same theme. Some English versions (like the GW) do not explicitly translate this conjunction. Others translate it with the word “also.” For example, the CEV says:

They also follow a lot of other teachings

Connect the information of 7:4c with 7:4a and 7:4b in a way that is natural in your language.

many other traditions: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as many other traditions is literally “many other.” The BSB has supplied the word traditions to make the sense more clear.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

many other rules (GNT)

many other things (NASB)

many other unwritten laws (NCV)

for them to observe: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as observe includes the same Greek word as the word that was translated as “holding” in 7:3c. It means that the Pharisees and others Jews very carefully “followed” or “obeyed” their traditions. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

they observe (NIV)

they follow (GNT)

7:4d

including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.

to wash cups, pitchers, and pots/kettles.)
as to how they should wash cups, jugs, and cooking pots.

the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining: There is a textual issue in this verse. Some Greek manuscripts include a phrase that the GNT translates as “and beds.” This phrase probably referred to couches where people reclined to eat their meals.

Some Greek manuscripts do not have “and beds” at the end of the list. For example, the CEV says:
such as washing cups, pitchers, and bowls (NIV, RSV, CEV, NCV, NASB, NJB, NLT, NRSV, REB, JBP)
Other Greek manuscripts have “and beds.” For example, the GNT says:
to wash cups, pots, copper bowls, and beds (BSB, GNT, NET, GW, KJV, ESV)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). However, if the national language version follows option (2), you may choose to translate “and beds.” Although option (1) has the support of the oldest and most reliable manuscripts, there is also strong support for option (2).

Whichever option you choose, you should consider putting the other option in a footnote.Both options have about equal manuscript support. (UBS4 page 145, Swanson page105). The Greek phrase translated “and beds” may have been originally rejected because it did not seem to fit in this list of items. However, there is strong possibility that the beds referred to here were not sleeping mats, but rather dining couches on which people sat or reclined to eat a meal. In this case, it would have been appropriate for Mark to include it here in this list of items. (Metzger pages 80–81, Blight and Smith page 152). The NIV, NRSV, CEV, and NLT put “and beds” in a footnote.

If people in your area do not recline to eat their meals, you may want to translate the phrase “and couches” with a different term. For example:

and seats

cups: The word cups refers to containers used for drinking water or other liquids.

pitchers: The word pitchers refers to containers from which water or other liquids are poured into cups. Some other words for pitchers are “pots” (as in the GNT) or “jugs” (as in the JBP).

kettles: The Greek word that the BSB translates as kettles refers to containers made of brass. Another word for kettles is “pots” (as in the NCV). The size and use of the container is not clear. Use a word in your language that refers to metal containers/pots used for cooking food.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀπ’ ἀγορᾶς ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν

from ˓the˒_marketplace (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί ἀπʼ ἀγορᾶς ἐάν μή βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν καί ἀλλά πολλά ἐστίν ἅ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν βαπτισμούς ποτηρίων καί ξεστῶν καί χαλκίων)

Here Mark could be indicating that the Pharisees and other Jews: (1) do not eat anything unless they baptize themselves when they return home from the marketplace. Alternate translation: [returning from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they baptize themselves] (2) do not eat what they brought home from the marketplace unless they baptize it first. Alternate translation: [they do not eat anything from the marketplace unless they baptize it]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

ἀγορᾶς

˓the˒_marketplace

See how you translated marketplace in [6:56](../06/56.md). Alternate translation: [a town square] or [a park]

Note 3 topic: grammar-connect-exceptions

ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί ἀπʼ ἀγορᾶς ἐάν μή βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν καί ἀλλά πολλά ἐστίν ἅ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν βαπτισμούς ποτηρίων καί ξεστῶν καί χαλκίων)

If, in your language, it would appear that Mark was making a statement here and then contradicting it, you could reword this to avoid using an exception clause. Alternate translation: [they only eat if they have baptized]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἄλλα πολλά ἐστιν ἃ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν

Here Mark is referring to many other traditions that the Pharisees and other Jews received from the elders and hold to. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [there are many other traditions that they received from the elders and that they hold to]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ποτηρίων καὶ ξεστῶν καὶ χαλκίων

˱of˲_cups (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί ἀπʼ ἀγορᾶς ἐάν μή βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν καί ἀλλά πολλά ἐστίν ἅ παρέλαβον κρατεῖν βαπτισμούς ποτηρίων καί ξεστῶν καί χαλκίων)

The terms cups, pitchers, and copper vessels all refer to containers that people would use for making, serving, and storing food. Mark is using the three terms together to refer to many different kinds of containers like these. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could refer to many different kinds of containers by using only one or two terms. Alternate translation: [of various dishes] or [of pots and pans]

Note 6 topic: translate-unknown

ξεστῶν

pitchers

A pitcher is a container for holding liquids. This specific type of container could hold about half a liter, or about one pint. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of container, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [jugs]

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

χαλκίων

copper_kettles

Here, the word translated as copper vessels refers to any household container made from copper or copper alloys such as brass or bronze. If your readers would not be familiar with this type of container, you could use the name of something similar in your area or you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: [metal serving dishes] or [bronze pots]

Note 8 topic: translate-textvariants