"For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash {their} hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. {…" — Mark 7:3

Mark 7:3 · KJV

“For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash {their} hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. {oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow}”

— Mark 7:3

Verse 2

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. {defiled: or, common}

Verse 4

And {when they come} from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, {as} the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. {pots: sextarius is about a pint and an half} {tables: or, beds}

Mark 7 — Context

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. {defiled: or, common}

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash {their} hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. {oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow}

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Cross References

Galatians 1:14

And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. {equals: Gr. equals in years}

Mark 7:13

And when he had called all the people {unto him}, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one {of you}, and understand:

Colossians 2:21-23

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

Colossians 2:8

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. {rudiments: or, elements} {make a prey: or, seduce you, or, lead you astray}

Mark 7:7-10

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching {for} doctrines the commandments of men.

1 Peter 1:18

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, {as} silver and gold, from your vain conversation {received} by tradition from your fathers;

Matthew 15:2-6

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Mark 7:5

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?