Mark 7:18

Verse

“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,

American Standard Version (1901)

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Bible in Basic English

And he said to them, Have even you so little wisdom? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside is not able to make him unclean,

Free Bible Version

“Don't you understand it either?” he asked them. “Don't you see that what you eat doesn't make you unclean?

Geneva Bible 1599

And he sayde vnto them, What? are ye without vnderstanding also? Doe ye not knowe that whatsoeuer thing from without entreth into a man, cannot defile him,

King James (Authorized) Version

And 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;

One Unity Resource Bible

He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

Plain English Version

Jesus said, “What’s wrong with you? You still don’t understand what I’m saying. Listen. If you eat something, it goes into your belly, then, some time later, it goes out of your body into the toilet. It doesn’t go into your brain. So God will not say, ‘You ate the wrong food and made yourself no good.’ No, he will not say that.” (Jesus said that about food, and he made it clear for us that every sort of food is all right.)

Translation for Translators

He replied, “◄I am disappointed that you also do not understand what it means!/Why can you not understand what it means?► [RHQ] ◄You ought to understand that nothing that enters us from outside can cause God to consider us unacceptable to him./Can you not understand that nothing that enters us from outside of us can cause God to consider us unacceptable to him?► [RHQ]

Unlocked Literal Bible

Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever enters into a person from outside cannot defile him,

Noah Webster Bible

And he saith to them, Are ye so void of understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him.

World English Bible

He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

Young's Literal Translation

and he saith to them, 'So also ye are without understanding! Do ye not perceive that nothing from without entering into the man is able to defile him?

Context

What Defiles a Man

¹⁷After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.¹⁸“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, ¹⁹because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

Sermons

Jesus Interprets the Law

Paul Bramsen

Summary

In Mark 7:18, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and explaining that what defiles a person is not what goes into their body from the outside, such as food, but what comes out from their heart. This statement challenges the traditional Jewish dietary laws and emphasizes the importance of inner purity and righteousness. Jesus is highlighting the significance of one's thoughts, intentions, and actions, indicating that true defilement stems from sinful attitudes and behaviors rather than external factors. This verse encourages believers to focus on cultivating a pure heart and living a life that is pleasing to God, rather than being preoccupied with external rituals or regulations.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Because it entereth not into his heart,.... Which is the seat and fountain of all moral pollution; and if that is not defiled, no other part can be; and that that is not defiled by eating and drinking, unless in case of intemperance, is clear; because food and drink do not go into it: but into the belly; it is taken in at the mouth, goes down the throat, and is received into the stomach, and from thence it passes through the bowels: and goeth into the draught; , "the private house", as the Jews call it, without going into the heart at all: purging all meats; that which it leaves behind, is pure and nourishing; and whatever is gross and impure, is carried with it into the draught, so that nothing remains in the man that is defiling.

Mark 7:18

What Defiles a Man

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,

American Standard Version (1901)

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him;

Bible in Basic English

And he said to them, Have even you so little wisdom? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside is not able to make him unclean,

Free Bible Version

“Don't you understand it either?” he asked them. “Don't you see that what you eat doesn't make you unclean?

Geneva Bible 1599

And he sayde vnto them, What? are ye without vnderstanding also? Doe ye not knowe that whatsoeuer thing from without entreth into a man, cannot defile him,

King James (Authorized) Version

And 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;

One Unity Resource Bible

He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

Plain English Version

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever enters into a person from outside cannot defile him,

Noah Webster Bible

And he saith to them, Are ye so void of understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him.

World English Bible

He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him,

Young's Literal Translation

and he saith to them, 'So also ye are without understanding! Do ye not perceive that nothing from without entering into the man is able to defile him?