Genesis 47:6

47:6 The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best region of the land. They may live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any highly capable men ¹  among them, put them in charge ²  of my livestock.”

Genesis 47:12

47:12 Joseph also provided food for his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household, according to the number of their little children.

Matthew 15:5-6

15:5 But you say, ‘If someone tells his father or mother, “Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,” ³  15:6 he does not need to honor his father.’ ⁴  You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition.

Mark 7:9-12

7:9 He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up ⁵  your tradition. 7:10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ ⁶  and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’ ⁷  7:11 But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban’ ⁸  (that is, a gift for God), 7:12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother.

Mark 7:1

Breaking Human Traditions

7:1 Now ⁹  the Pharisees ¹⁰  and some of the experts in the law ¹¹  who came from Jerusalem ¹²  gathered around him.

Mark 5:4

5:4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, ¹³  but ¹⁴  he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him.

¹ tn Heb “men of skill.”

² tn Heb “make them rulers.”

³ tn Grk “is a gift,” that is, something dedicated to God.

⁴ tc The logic of v. 5 would seem to demand that both father and mother are in view in v. 6. Indeed, the majority of mss (C L W Θ 0106 ˹ Ï) have “or his mother” (ἢ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ, h thn mhtera autou) after “honor his father” here. However, there are significant witnesses that have variations on this theme (καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ [kai thn mhtera autou, “and his mother”] in Φ 565 1241 pc and ἢ τὴν μητέρα [“or mother”] in 073 ˹³ 33 579 700 892 pc), which is usually an indication of a predictable addition to the text rather than an authentic reading. Further, the shorter reading (without any mention of “mother”) is found in early and important witnesses (א B D sa). Although it is possible that the shorter reading came about accidentally (due to the repetition of –ερα αὐτοῦ), the evidence more strongly suggests that the longer readings were intentional scribal alterations.

⁵ tc The translation here follows the reading στήσητε (sthshte, “set up”) found in D W Θ Ë¹ 28 565 2542 it sy^s,p Cyp. The majority of mss here read τηρήσητε (thrhsete; א A L ˹³ 33 Ï co) or τηρῆτε (thrhte; B 2427), both translated “keep.” It is hard to know which reading is best: On the one hand, τηρήσητε/τηρῆτε has much stronger external support, but στήσητε is a more difficult reading. What makes “keep” suspect is that it appears in two different forms, suggesting independent alterations of a difficult reading. Further, scribes may have been influenced by the preceding “commandment of God” to change the text toward “keep” (TCGNT 81), a common enough expression (cf. Matt 19:17; John 14:15; 1 Tim 6:1; 1 John 5:3; Rev 14:12). Thus, the more difficult reading is “set up.” Also, the more natural opposite of “reject” (ἀθεῖτε [aqeite], literally “you set aside”) is “set up.” However, the Western reading may have been influenced by Exod 6:4 or Heb 10:9, but this likelihood seems remote. Thus, “set up” is more likely to be the original wording of Mark here.

⁶ sn A quotation from Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.

⁷ sn A quotation from Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9.

⁸ sn Corban is a Hebrew loanword (transliterated in the Greek text and in most modern English translations) referring to something that has been set aside as a gift to be given to God at some later date, but which is still in the possession of the owner (L&N 53.22). According to contemporary Jewish tradition the person who made this claim was absolved from responsibility to support or assist his parents, a clear violation of the Mosaic law to honor one’s parents (v. 10).

⁹ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

¹⁰ sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.

¹¹ tn Or “and some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

¹² map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

¹³ tn Grk “he had often been bound with chains and shackles.” “Shackles” could also be translated “fetters”; they were chains for the feet.

¹⁴ tn Grk “and.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.