Mark 7:3

King James Version (KJV)

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Translations

Mark 7:3 - Amplified Bible

For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat unless [merely for ceremonial reasons] they wash their hands [diligently up to the elbow] with clenched fist, adhering [carefully and faithfully] to the tradition of [practices and customs handed down to them by] their forefathers [to be observed].

Mark 7:3 - American Standard Version

(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;

Mark 7:3 - Bible in Basic English

Now the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not take food without washing their hands with care, keeping the old rule which has been handed down to them:

Mark 7:3 - Darby Bible

(for the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they wash their hands diligently, do not eat, holding what has been delivered by the ancients;

Mark 7:3 - English Standard Version

(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders,

Mark 7:3 - King James Version

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Mark 7:3 - La Biblia de las Americas

(Porque los fariseos y todos los judìos no comen a menos de que se laven las manos cuidadosamente, observando asì la tradiciòn de los ancianos;

Mark 7:3 - The Message

Mark 7:3 - New American Standard Bible

(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, {thus} observing the traditions of the elders;

Mark 7:3 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

(Porque los Fariseos y todos los Judìos no comen a menos de que se laven las manos cuidadosamente, observando asì la tradiciòn de los ancianos.

Mark 7:3 - World English Bible

(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don`t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.

Mark 7:3 - Young's Living Translation

for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, if they do not wash the hands to the wrist, do not eat, holding the tradition of the elders,

Mark 7:3 - Additional Comments

The Pharisees held strongly not only to the Torah, the written letter of the law, i.e. the Old Testament, but also to their own interpretation of it, which were the oral or spoken laws. These were the tradition of the elders.
Because of these oral Pharisaical laws, the Jews were not allowed to eat before cleaning their hands a certain way. This cleansing had become much more than for hygiene - it had become law, and violation was sin. This cleansing was a ritual washing performed in a precise manner. Water kept in ceremonial containers was poured over the hands as they were held pointed upward. The water had to flow down at least to the wrists. Then the fist of each hand was rubbed into the palm of the other hand. With the hands held downward, water was poured on the wrists so it ran down and off the fingers. Then the hands were clean. The Pharisees saw Jesus' disciples eat bread before doing this cleansing.

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