Spoken to:
Asked by Pharisees why followers eat with unwashed hands, violating tradition. Jesus points to how the Pharisees negate one of the ten commandments.
KJV :
Mark 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
NIV :
Mark 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Listeners Heard:
Canceling this idea of the Divine with that tradition of yours that you hand down. And you perform similar things such as these. Many!
My Takeaway:
As people make more and more rules, the logic of the Divine is lost.
Lost in Translation:
The word beginning this verse is translated as "make to none effect/cancel" and it is only used by Jesus here and in a related verse in Matthew.
This verse uses two words that are connected, but we cannot see the connection in translation. The word translated as "traditions" literally means "given down" or "given down" with the sense of things handed down from previous generations. However, the word translated as "delivered/handed down" is from the same root words.
The verse ends with the verb "you do" which is the punchline, but the setup for it is three adjectives in a row meaning "similar," "such as these" and "many." These are all plural neuter adjectives so our word "things" can be added to any of them since there is no other noun. "Many" is the word before the verb giving it more emphasis.
Original Word Order:
WORD-BY-WORD COMPARISON OF THE GREEK TO ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS:
ἀκυροῦντες [1 verse]( part pl pres act masc nom) "Making...of none effect" is from akyroo, which means "to cancel", "to set aside," and "render powerless."
τὸν [821 verses] (article sg masc acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
λόγον [80 verses](noun sg masc acc) "Word" is logos, which means "word", "computation", "relation", "explanation", "law", "rule of conduct", "continuous statement", "tradition", "discussion," "reckoning," and "value."
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
θεοῦ [144 verses] (noun sg masc gen)) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."
τῇ [821 verses]( article sg fem dat) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
παραδόσει [5 verses](noun sg fem dat) "Tradition" is paradosis, which means literally "to give over" and it used to mean "handing over" and "passing down." It is used to mean the "transmission" of legends, "bequeathing" of an inheritance," or that which is handed down such as "tradition," "doctrine," or "teaching.
ὑμῶν [168 verses] (pron 2nd pl gen) "Your" is humon, the plural possessive form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."
ᾗ [294 verses] ( pron sg fem dat ) "Which" is hos, which means "this", "that", "he", "she", "which", "what", "who", "whosoever", "where", "for which reason," and many similar meanings.
παρεδώκατε: [43 verses]( verb 2nd pl aor ind act ) "You have delivered" is paradidomi, which means "to give over to another", "to transmit", "to hand down", "to grant", "to teach," and "to bestow."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just."
παρόμοια [1 verse]( adj pl neut nom/acc) "Like things" is paromoios, which means "closely resembling," and "nearly equal."
τοιαῦτα [8 verses]( adj pl neut acc/nom) "Such" is toioutos, which means "such as this", "so great a thing", ""such a condition", "such a reason", "and suchlike."
πολλὰ [61 verses] ( adj pl neut acc/nom) "Many" is polys, which means "many (in number)", "great (in size or power or worth)," and "large (of space)." As an adverb, it means "far", "very much", "a great way," and "long."
ποιεῖτε. [168 verses]( verb 2nd pl pres ind act) "Do ye" is poieo, which means "to make", "to produce", "to create", "to bring into existence", "to bring about", "to cause", "to perform", "to render", "to consider", "to prepare", "to make ready," and "to do."
KJV Analysis:
Making... - "Making...of none effect" is a Greek verb used only here and in a similar verse of Matthew 15:6. It means "to cancel", "to set aside," and "render powerless."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. Here, the "this" clearly refers to the commandment "honor thy father.:"
word -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it.
of - This comes from the form of the following article and noun.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
of none effect -- This finishes the concept of the verb above.
through -- This word "through" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners. It comes after the noun so "of yours."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
tradition, -- "Tradition" is from a noun which means literally "handing over" and it used to mean "handing over" and "passing down." It is used to mean the "transmission" of legends, "bequeathing" of an inheritance," or that which is handed down such as "tradition", "doctrine," or "teaching."
which -- The word translated as "which" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
ye - This comes from the form fo the following verb, second person, plural.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here. The verb is a form that indicates something happening at a specific point in time, past, present or future.
delivered: -- "Delivered" is a compound word that literally means "to give over." It is often translated in the KJV as "betray," but it has no real sense of that. Here, the sense is "handed down."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size. However, since this word comes at the end of a series of adjective, the sense is more of a noun, myriads.
such - "Such" is an adjective that means "such as this", "so great a thing", ""such a condition", "such a reason", "and suchlike." This "many such things phrase should follow "like."
like - (WP) "Like things" is an adjective that is only used by Jesus in this verse, It means "closely resembling," and "nearly equal." This word comes first in the series of adjectives, not last.
things - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous adjective.
do -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not.
ye. -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
KJV Translation Issues:
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "tradition" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WP -- Wrongly Placed -- The word "like" doesn't appear here but before "many such."
NIV Analysis:
Thus you -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "thus you" in the Greek source.
nullify - (WF) "Nullify" is a Greek verb used only here and in a similar verse of Matthew 15:6. It means "to cancel", "to set aside," and "render powerless."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. Here, the "this" clearly refers to the commandment "honor thy father.:"
word -- (CW) "Word" is translated from a Greek word that means "calculation," or "reasoning." It is the source of our word "logic" and is the root word for all the English words that end in "-ology." Most biblical translations translated it as "word" for somewhat poetic reasons. More about this word in this article. In English, we would say "idea" to describe it.
of - This comes from the form of the following article and noun.
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
God -- The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God." Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.
by -- This word "by" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
your -- The word translated as "your" is plural addressing a group of Jesus's listeners. It comes after the noun so "of yours."
missing "the/this" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more.
tradition, -- "Tradition" is from a noun which means literally "handing over" and it used to mean "handing over" and "passing down." It is used to mean the "transmission" of legends, "bequeathing" of an inheritance," or that which is handed down such as "tradition", "doctrine," or "teaching."
that -- The word translated as "that" is a demonstrative pronoun ("this" "that"), but it often acts as a pronoun ("the one that), especially a connective pronoun ("the one that") introducing a dependent clause.
you - This comes from the form fo the following verb, second person, plural.
have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here. The verb is a form that indicates something happening at a specific point in time, past, present or future.
handed down: -- "Handed down" is a compound word that literally means "to give over." It is often translated in the KJV as "betray," but it has no real sense of that.
And -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is best translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as".
you -- This is from the second-person, plural form of the verb.
do -- The Greek word translated as "to do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action. It is not as broad a word as the English "do", which covers all actions, productive or not.
many -- The word translated as "many" means many in number, great in power or worth, and large in size. However, since this word comes at the end of a series of adjective, the sense is more of a noun, myriads.
things - There is no word, "things," in the Greek source, but this word comes from the neuter, plural form of the previous adjective.
like - "Like " is an adjective that is only used by Jesus in this verse, It means "closely resembling," and "nearly equal." This word comes first in the series of adjectives, not last.
that - (CW, WN) "That" is an adjective that means "such as this", "so great a thing", ""such a condition", "such a reason", "and suchlike." This "many such things phrase should follow "like." This word is not singular but plural.
NIV Translation Issues:
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "thus you" doesn't exist in the source.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "cancel" is not an active verb but a participle, "canceling."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "tradition" is not shown in the English translation.
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
- WN --Wrong Number- The word "that" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "these."
Related Verses:
Possible Symbolic Meaning:
Jesus often repeats statements to emphasize the three overlapping realms--physical, mental, and emotional--in which we live. In this case, he touches on all three: "words" are the mental realm, but transmission of orders is the emotional (social) realm, and "doing" is the physical realm. The general sense here is that people torture logic, that is, God's logos, to justify what they want in terms of social power and physical gratification.
Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings:
Whenever Jesus uses the Greek word "traditions," what is lost is the connection between that word and power. In Greek, the word also means "the transmission of orders," so the sense is that Pharisees made themselves the middlemen in the exchange. We see this same idea repeated earlier in Mark 7:8 and Mark 7:9.