Mark 7:15
New International Version
Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

New Living Translation
It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

English Standard Version
There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

Berean Standard Bible
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Berean Literal Bible
There is nothing from outside the man entering into him which is able to defile him; but the things proceeding out of the man are the things defiling the man."

King James Bible
There 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.

New King James Version
There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.

New American Standard Bible
there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person.”

NASB 1995
there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

NASB 1977
there is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

Legacy Standard Bible
there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.

Amplified Bible
there is nothing outside a man [such as food] which by going into him can defile him [morally or spiritually]; but the things which come out of [the heart of] a man are what defile and dishonor him.

Christian Standard Bible
Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.

American Standard Version
there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

English Revised Version
there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him: but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.

Good News Translation
There is nothing that goes into you from the outside which can make you ritually unclean. Rather, it is what comes out of you that makes you unclean."

International Standard Version
Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean.

Majority Standard Bible
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.

NET Bible
There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him."

New Heart English Bible
There is nothing from outside of the person, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the person are what defile the person."

Webster's Bible Translation
There 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.

Weymouth New Testament
There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man that make him unclean."

World English Bible
There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
there is nothing from outside the man entering into him that is able to defile him, but the things coming out from him, those are the things defiling the man.

Berean Literal Bible
There is nothing from outside the man entering into him which is able to defile him; but the things proceeding out of the man are the things defiling the man."

Young's Literal Translation
there is nothing from without the man entering into him that is able to defile him, but the things coming out from him, those are the things defiling the man.

Smith's Literal Translation
There is nothing from without a man, entering into him, which can defile him: but things coming out from him, these are the things polluting the man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.

Catholic Public Domain Version
There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which procede from a man, these are what pollute a man.

New American Bible
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” [

New Revised Standard Version
there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
There is nothing outside of a man, if it should enter into him, which can defile him; but what goes out of him, that defiles the man.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“There is nothing outside of a man that enters into him that can defile him, but the thing that proceeds from him, that is what defiles the man.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
There is nothing with out that, by entering into a man, can defile him. But those things which come out of the man, defile him.

Godbey New Testament
There is nothing without a man coming into him, which is competent to defile him: but those things coming out from him, these are the things which defile the man.

Haweis New Testament
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him, can make him unclean: but the things which come out from him, these are the things which make a man unclean.

Mace New Testament
there is nothing from without, that entring into a man can defile him: but that which originally proceeds from the man, is what defiles him.

Weymouth New Testament
There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man that make him unclean."

Worrell New Testament
there is nothing from without the man, that, entering into him, can defile him; but the things proceeding out of the man are those that defile the man."

Worsley New Testament
Hear me all of you, and understand, There is nothing without a man, which entring into him can defile him: but the things proceeding from him are those which defile a man.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
What Defiles a Man
14Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Cross References
Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

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 14:14
I 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 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Colossians 2:21-23
“Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”? / These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. / Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

1 Timothy 4:4
For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected,

Genesis 9:3
Everything that lives and moves will be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you all things.

Leviticus 11:1-47
The 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 14:3-21
You 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 29:13
Therefore 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 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 23:25-26
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

Luke 11:39-41
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.


Treasury of Scripture

There 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.

There.

nothing.

Mark 7:18-20
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; …

Leviticus 11:42-47
Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination…

Acts 10:14-16,28
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean…

but.

Mark 7:20-23
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man…

Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

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Mark 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.














Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him;
In this phrase, Jesus challenges the prevailing Jewish customs and interpretations of the Law regarding ritual purity. The Jewish dietary laws, as outlined in Leviticus 11, were central to Jewish identity and religious practice. These laws distinguished between clean and unclean foods, and consuming unclean foods was believed to defile a person. Jesus' statement here is radical, as it shifts the focus from external observance to internal purity. This teaching aligns with the prophetic tradition found in passages like Isaiah 29:13, where God criticizes the people for honoring Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. Jesus emphasizes that true defilement is a matter of the heart, not external adherence to dietary laws.

but the things that come out of a man,
This phrase highlights the importance of internal moral and spiritual condition over external ritual compliance. In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, there was a strong emphasis on maintaining ritual purity through external actions. However, Jesus redirects attention to the moral and ethical behaviors that originate from within a person. This teaching is consistent with the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs 4:23, which advises guarding one's heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Jesus is teaching that the source of true defilement is not what is consumed, but what is produced by one's thoughts, words, and actions.

these are what defile him.”
Here, Jesus concludes His teaching by asserting that defilement is a result of what emanates from a person's heart and mind. This statement is a call to self-examination and repentance, urging individuals to focus on their inner life and relationship with God. It echoes the teachings of the prophets, such as Jeremiah 17:9, which describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked. Jesus' teaching also foreshadows the New Covenant, where the law is written on the hearts of believers (Jeremiah 31:33). This internalization of God's law is fulfilled in Christ, who embodies the perfect example of purity and righteousness. Jesus' emphasis on internal defilement underscores the need for a transformation that only He can provide, pointing to the necessity of His redemptive work on the cross.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching the crowd about the true nature of defilement, challenging the traditional Jewish understanding of purity laws.

2. The Pharisees and Scribes
Religious leaders who are often in conflict with Jesus over interpretations of the Law. They are present in the broader context of this chapter, questioning Jesus about his disciples' practices.

3. The Crowd
The general audience to whom Jesus is speaking. They are witnesses to Jesus' teaching and are encouraged to understand the deeper spiritual truths he presents.

4. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are learning from his teachings and are often given deeper explanations of his parables and teachings.

5. Gennesaret
The region where Jesus and his disciples are located during this teaching, as mentioned earlier in Mark 6:53.
Teaching Points
Understanding True Defilement
Jesus redefines defilement, focusing on the heart's condition rather than external rituals. This challenges believers to prioritize internal purity over mere outward compliance.

Guarding the Heart
Believers are encouraged to examine their thoughts, intentions, and words, as these reflect the true state of their hearts and can lead to defilement.

Freedom from Legalism
Jesus' teaching liberates believers from the bondage of legalistic practices, emphasizing a relationship with God that is based on inner transformation rather than external observance.

The Power of Words
Recognizing that words can defile, believers are called to speak life and truth, reflecting the purity of their hearts in their speech.

Holistic Purity
True purity involves both the heart and actions. Believers are encouraged to align their inner convictions with their outward behavior, living authentically before God and others.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Nothing
οὐδέν (ouden)
Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

that enters
εἰσπορευόμενον (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.

a
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive 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.

man
ἀνθρώπου (anthrōpou)
Noun - Genitive 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 outside
ἔξωθεν (exōthen)
Preposition
Strong's 1855: (a) from outside, from without, (b) outside, both as adj. and prep; with article: the outside. From exo; external(-ly).

can
δύναται (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.

defile
κοινῶσαι (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;
αὐτόν (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.

but
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

the things
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

that come
ἐκπορευόμενά (ekporeuomena)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 1607: From ek and poreuomai; to depart, be discharged, proceed, project.

out of
ἐκ (ek)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

a
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive 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.

man,
ἀνθρώπου (anthrōpou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

these are
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

what
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

defile
κοινοῦντα (koinounta)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2840: To make unclean, pollute, desecrate, mid: I regard (treat) as unclean. From koinos; to make profane.

[him].”
ἄνθρωπον (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.


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NT Gospels: Mark 7:15 There is nothing from outside (Mar Mk Mr)
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