New International Version“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?
New Living Translation“Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you?
English Standard VersionAnd he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him,
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,
Berean Literal BibleAnd He says to them, "Thus are you also without understanding? Do you not understand that everything entering into the man from outside is not able to defile him,
King James BibleAnd 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;
New King James VersionSo He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,
New American Standard BibleAnd He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him,
NASB 1995And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
NASB 1977And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him;
Legacy Standard BibleAnd He said to them, “Are you lacking understanding in this way as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
Amplified BibleAnd He said to them, “Are you, too, so foolish and lacking in understanding? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile and dishonor him,
Christian Standard BibleHe said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a person from the outside can defile him?
Holman Christian Standard BibleAnd He said to them, “Are you also as lacking in understanding? Don’t you realize that nothing going into a man from the outside can defile him?
American Standard VersionAnd 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;
Contemporary English VersionHe answered, "Don't you know what I am talking about by now? You surely know that the food you put into your mouth cannot make you unclean.
English Revised VersionAnd 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;
GOD'S WORD® TranslationJesus said to them, "Don't you understand? Don't you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can't make him unclean?
Good News Translation"You are no more intelligent than the others," Jesus said to them. "Don't you understand? Nothing that goes into you from the outside can really make you unclean,
International Standard VersionHe asked them, "Are you so ignorant? Don't you know that nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean?
NET BibleHe said to them, "Are you so foolish? Don't you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?
New Heart English BibleHe said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him,
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd 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.
Weymouth New Testament"Have *you* also so little understanding?" He replied; "do you not understand that anything whatever that enters a man from outside cannot make him unclean, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,
World English BibleHe said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him, Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand He says to them, “So also you are without understanding! Do you not perceive that nothing from outside entering into the man is able to defile him?
Berean Literal BibleAnd He says to them, "Thus are you also without understanding? Do you not understand that everything entering into the man from outside is not able to 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?
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd he says, So are ye also without understanding? Do ye not perceive, that anything from without entering into a man, cannot pollute him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he saith to them: So are you also without knowledge? understand you not that every thing from without, entering into a man cannot defile him:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd he said to them: “So, are you also without prudence? Do you not understand that everything entering to a man from outside is not able to pollute him?
New American BibleHe said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
New Revised Standard VersionHe said to them, “Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said to them, So even you are puzzled. Do you not know that whatever enters into a man from outside cannot defile him?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishHe said to them, “Are you also stupid? Do you not know that nothing entering from outside a man can defile him?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he said to them: Are you also so void of understanding? Do you not perceive that nothing from without, by entering into a man, can defile him?
Godbey New TestamentAnd He says to them, Are you still without understanding? Do you not know that everything external entering into a man is not able to defile him?
Haweis New Testament
And he saith to them, Are ye also so defective of intelligence? Do you not consider, that every thing from without that entereth into a man, cannot make him unclean?
Mace New Testament
and he said, are you likewise so void of understanding? don't you perceive that what passes from without into a man cannot defile him?
Weymouth New Testament
"Have *you* also so little understanding?" He replied; "do you not understand that anything whatever that enters a man from outside cannot make him unclean,
Worrell New Testament
And He saith to them,"Are ye too thus without understanding? Do ye not perceive that nothing, entering into a man from without, can defile him;
Worsley New Testament
And He saith unto them,Are ye so void of understanding also? Do ye not know, that whatsoever from without entreth into a man cannot defile him?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context What Defiles a Man… 17After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable. 18“Areyoustillsodull?”He asked.“Do you not understand?Nothingthatentersamanfrom the outsidecandefilehim,19because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)…
Cross References Matthew 15:16-17“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked. / “Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated?
Acts 10:14-15“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” / The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Romans 14:14I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.
1 Corinthians 6:13“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will destroy them both. The body is not intended for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
1 Timothy 4:4-5For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, / because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Genesis 9:3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.
Leviticus 11:1-47The LORD spoke again to Moses and Aaron, telling them, / “Say to the Israelites, ‘Of all the beasts of the earth, these ones you may eat: / You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud. ...
Deuteronomy 14:3-21You must not eat any detestable thing. / These are the animals that you may eat: The ox, the sheep, the goat, / the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep. ...
Isaiah 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Ezekiel 4:14“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”
Hosea 9:3They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.
Acts 11:8-9‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ / But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
Romans 14:20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to let his eating be a stumbling block.
Colossians 2:16-17Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. / These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.
Colossians 2:20-22If you have died with Christ to the spiritual forces of the world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its regulations: / “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? / These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.
Treasury of Scripture And he said to them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him; Mark 4:13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? Isaiah 28:9,10 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine?them that are weaned from the milk,and drawn from the breasts… Jeremiah 5:4,5 Therefore I said, Surely theseare poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD,nor the judgment of their God… Jump to Previous AbleDefileDullEnterethEntersGoesLittleOutsidePerceiveUncleanUnderstandUnderstandingUnintelligentVoidWhateverWhatsoeverWisdomJump to Next AbleDefileDullEnterethEntersGoesLittleOutsidePerceiveUncleanUnderstandUnderstandingUnintelligentVoidWhateverWhatsoeverWisdomMark 7 1.The Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with unwashed hands.8.They break the commandment of God by the traditions of men.14.Food defiles not the man.24.He heals the Syrophenician woman's daughter of an unclean spirit;31.and one that was deaf, and stammered in his speech.“Are you still so dull?” He asked.In this phrase, Jesus addresses His disciples with a question that highlights their lack of understanding. The term "dull" suggests a spiritual insensitivity or slowness to grasp spiritual truths. This reflects a common theme in the Gospels where the disciples often struggle to comprehend Jesus' teachings (e.g., Mark 4:13, Matthew 15:16). The question is rhetorical, emphasizing the expectation that they should have understood His teachings by now. This moment underscores the patience of Jesus as a teacher and the gradual process of spiritual enlightenment. “Do you not understand?”
Here, Jesus continues to challenge His disciples' comprehension. The question implies that the understanding He expects is not merely intellectual but spiritual. This connects to the broader biblical theme of spiritual discernment, as seen in passages like1 Corinthians 2:14, where spiritual truths are understood through the Spirit. The disciples' lack of understanding serves as a reminder of the need for divine revelation to truly grasp the things of God. Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,
This statement addresses the Jewish dietary laws and the Pharisaic traditions that emphasized external purity. In the historical and cultural context, Jewish law was deeply concerned with ritual cleanliness, as outlined inLeviticus 11. Jesus' teaching here challenges the prevailing Jewish thought by asserting that true defilement is not about external factors but internal ones. This anticipates the New Covenant understanding of purity, where the focus shifts from external observance to the condition of the heart (seeMatthew 15:11,Acts 10:15). This teaching also foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith, as dietary laws were a significant barrier between Jews and Gentiles. Jesus, as the fulfillment of the Law, redefines purity, pointing to the internal transformation that He brings. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the true nature of defilement, challenging the traditional Jewish understanding of purity laws. 2. The DisciplesJesus' followers who are struggling to understand His teachings about what truly defiles a person. 3. Pharisees and ScribesAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, they are the religious leaders whose traditions and interpretations of the law Jesus is challenging in this broader passage. 4. Jewish Purity LawsThe context of this teaching involves the Jewish customs and laws regarding clean and unclean foods, which were a significant part of Jewish religious life. 5. The CrowdEarlier in the chapter, Jesus addresses the crowd, setting the stage for this teaching moment with His disciples. Teaching Points Understanding True DefilementJesus teaches that defilement is not about external factors but the condition of the heart. This challenges us to focus on internal purity rather than external rituals. Breaking TraditionsJesus' words encourage believers to evaluate traditions and practices in light of God's truth, ensuring they align with biblical principles rather than human customs. Heart Over RitualThe emphasis is on the heart's condition, urging believers to cultivate a heart that seeks God and His righteousness above all else. Freedom in ChristThis teaching highlights the freedom believers have in Christ from the constraints of the law, encouraging a focus on spiritual rather than ceremonial purity. Discernment and GrowthJesus' question to the disciples about their understanding challenges us to seek deeper spiritual insight and growth in our walk with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Mark 7:18?
2.How does Mark 7:18 challenge our understanding of spiritual purity versus tradition?
3.What does "nothing that enters a man" teach about external versus internal defilement?
4.How can we apply Jesus' teaching in Mark 7:18 to our daily lives?
5.Connect Mark 7:18 with 1 Samuel 16:7 on God's view of the heart.
6.In what ways can we guard our hearts as instructed in Mark 7:18?
7.What does Mark 7:18 reveal about Jesus' view on dietary laws?
8.How does Mark 7:18 challenge traditional Jewish purity laws?
9.Why does Jesus question the disciples' understanding in Mark 7:18?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 7?
11.What does the Bible say about being defiled?
12.Are Catholics allowed to eat meat on Fridays?
13.What is the Bible's stance on eating pork?
14.What is halal food and its significance?What Does Mark 7:18 Mean Are you still so dull?• Jesus voices holy frustration, speaking to disciples who had watched Him heal, calm storms, and multiply bread, yet still missed His point (Mark 4:35-41; 6:41-52). • The phrase exposes a spiritual sluggishness, not an intellectual shortfall; they saw the signs but failed to connect them to God’s heart (Hebrews 5:11-14). • Christ’s rebuke is loving: He awakens them to deeper insight, the way a parent nudges a child who should know better (Proverbs 3:11-12;Mark 8:17-18). • For us, the line warns that prolonged exposure to truth without response dulls perception (John 14:9). Spiritual life demands alertness, not passive observation.
Do you not understand?• Jesus presses the disciples to interpret events through Scriptural lenses, recalling His earlier parable challenge, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). • Understanding, in the biblical sense, is grasping God’s intent so fully that it transforms conduct (Proverbs 4:7;James 1:22-25). • The Lord expects growth: what was once obscure should now be clear, because truth builds line upon line (Matthew 13:51-52). • Believers today likewise receive the Spirit “so that we may understand what God has freely given us” (1 Corinthians 2:12;Ephesians 1:17-18).
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him• Jesus overturns ritualistic thinking that equated holiness with food laws and ceremonial washings (Leviticus 11;Mark 7:3-4), pointing instead to the heart’s moral state (Mark 7:20-23). • He foreshadows the later revelation to Peter: “What God has made clean, you must not call impure” (Acts 10:15; see alsoRomans 14:14-17). • Food is physically processed and “into the sewer” (Mark 7:19), never touching the soul; sin arises from within—envy, pride, deceit—those corrupt the person. • This teaching liberates conscience while intensifying moral responsibility: externals no longer excuse inner rebellion (1 Corinthians 8:8;Colossians 2:20-23). • Christ ultimately fulfills the law, making purity a matter of grace-shaped hearts rather than menu lists (Galatians 5:13-16).
summaryMark 7:18 shows Jesus jolting His followers awake: outward rituals can’t cleanse or stain; only the heart’s posture before God matters. He calls disciples—then and now—to move from dull hearing to Spirit-sharpened understanding, embracing true holiness that springs from within and radiates outward through obedient lives. Verses 18, 19. - Our Lord had already, in his sermon on the mount, taught his disciples fully wherein purity or impurity of heart consists, and he might, therefore, with good reason, ask them how it was that they, even they who had been so favored by being constantly with him, had forgotten or misunderstood him. Our Lord's illustration is physically accurate. The portion carried off is that which by its removal purifies what remains. The part which is available for nourishment is, in its passage through the system, converted into chyle, the matter from which the blood is formed. What is not available for nourishment passes away into the ἀφεδρών, or draught, Purging all meats. The most approved reading here is undoubtedly the masculine ( καθαρἰζων), and not the neuter ( καθαρίζον). This change of reading compels a somewhat different construction. Accepting, therefore, the masculine as the true reading, the only possible rendering is that which makes this last clause a comment by the evangelist upon our Lord's previous words, in which he indicates to the reader that our Lord intended by this illustration to show that no food, of whatever kind, when received with thanksgiving, can make a man unclean. The clause must, therefore, be connected with the preceding words, by the introduction of the words, in italics, "This he said, making all meats clean." The passage, thus rendered, becomes a very significant exposition of what has gone before. It is well worthy of notice that this explanation is to be found in St. Chrysostom (Homily on St. Matthew 15.): Ὁ δὲ Μάρκος φησὶν ὅτι καθαρίζων τὰ βρώματα ταῦτα ἔλεγεν: "But Mark affirms that he said these things, making the meats clean." It may be added that this explanation agrees finely with the words in Acts 10:15, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek “Areἐστε(este)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.youὑμεῖς(hymeis)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.stillκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.soΟὕτως(Houtōs)Adverb
Strong's 3779:Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).dull?”ἀσύνετοί(asynetoi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 801:Unintelligent, without wisdom, unwise, undiscerning (implying probably moral defect). By implication, wicked.He asked.λέγει(legei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.“Do you not understand?νοεῖτε(noeite)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3539:From nous; to exercise the mind, i.e. to comprehend, heed.Nothingπᾶν(pan)Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.thatτὸ(to)Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.entersεἰσπορευόμενον(eisporeuomenon)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1531:To journey in(to), I go in(to), enter, intervene. From eis and poreuomai; to enter.aτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.manἄνθρωπον(anthrōpon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444:A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.from the outsideἔξωθεν(exōthen)Adverb
Strong's 1855:(a) from outside, from without, (b) outside, both as adj. and prep; with article: the outside. From exo; external(-ly).canδύναται(dynatai)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1410:(a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.defileκοινῶσαι(koinōsai)Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2840:To make unclean, pollute, desecrate, mid: I regard (treat) as unclean. From koinos; to make profane.him,αὐτὸν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
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NT Gospels: Mark 7:18 He said to them Are you thus (Mar Mk Mr) |
