Mark 7:1-3

Breaking Human Traditions

7:1 Now ¹  the Pharisees ²  and some of the experts in the law ³  who came from Jerusalem ⁴  gathered around him. 7:2 And they saw that some of Jesus’ disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. 7:3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, ⁵  holding fast to the tradition of the elders.

[7:1]  ¹ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[7:1]  ² sn See the note on Pharisees in 2:16.

[7:1]  ³ tn Or “and some of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 1:22.

[7:1]  ⁴ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “except they wash the hands with a fist,” a ceremonial washing (though the actual method is uncertain).