Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men...

Spoken to
Apostles

Jesus says that what comes within does make a person common.

KJV

Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

NIV

Mark 7:21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,

LISTENERS HEARD

Because from within, out of the heart of these people, the arguments, those evil ones are made to go out: immoralities, frauds, killings.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The central meaning of this verse is in the translation "evil thoughts." The word translated as "thoughts" means something more like "arguments." Literally, the word means "two ideas" or "two viewpoints." The word translated as "evil" is preceded by an article so the sense is "those evil ones." This is not the Greek word usually translated as "evil," used in the parallel verse in Matthew, Matthew 15:19, which means "worthless." (See this article.)

The word translated as "proceed" and "come" is passive and means "are made to go out." Evil thoughts do not act on themselves, they have to be "made to go." In other words, we have to act on them. This is why the list of evil deeds follows.

MY TAKE

Evil is as evil does.

GREEK ORDER

ἔσωθεν         γὰρ          ἐκ       τῆς καρδίας      τῶν   ἀνθρώπων
from within  Because , out of the heart       of these people,

οἱ   διαλογισμοὶ οἱ              κακοὶ  ἐκπορεύονται,        πορνεῖαι,        κλοπαί, φόνοι,
the arguments,   those ones evil    are made to go out: immoralities, frauds,  killings.
 

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
7
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "men" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "come" here is translated as active, but it is passive.
  •  MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "evil" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "thought" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "thoughts" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "adulteries" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The missing Greek word  "adulteries" did not exist in the KJV Greek source but does in the source we use today.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
12
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "it is" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "person" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "evil" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "thoughts" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "come" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
  • WV --Wrong Voice - The verb "come" here is translated as active but it is passive.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "thought" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "sexual immorality" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural,
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "theft" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural,
  • WN  --Wrong Number- The word "murdes" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural,
EACH WORD of KJV

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

from within, -- "From" is the adverb meaning "inwardly" or "from within."

out of -- The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

heart -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

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. 

men, -- The Greek word for "men" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".  Here it is plural.

proceed -- (WV)  "Proceed" is a verb that means literally, "to make to go or carry out of" and is translated regularly as "to make to go out of", "to fetch out," and "to march out," but in modern English, we would probably say "exit" here. It is not active passive, "made to go out."

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.

evil -- The word translated as "evil" is an adjective which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly", "low born", "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article. This word is preceded by an article and follows the word translated as "thoughts."

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. 

thoughts, -- (CW) "Thoughts" is a noun which means "balancing of accounts", "debate", "argument," and "discussion." It can also mean "balancing of accounts", "calculation," and it is the term for a "circuit court." "Thoughts" is not the specific meaning of the word.It is the word from which we get "dialogue."

adulteries, -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "adulteries" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used. However, it does appear in today's sources in the next verse (Mark 7:22).

fornications,  -  "Fornications" is from a word that which means promiscuity, generally, and "prostitution" for a woman and "fornication" for a man. In English. we would say "sexual affairs" or something similar.

missing "theft"  -- (OS) The untranslated word  "theft" is from a word that cover forms of dishonesty from theft to fraud. Though it doesn't appear in this verse in the KJV, it does in the next verse (Mark 7:22).

murders,   - "Murders" is from a noun that means both homicide and killing as a punishment.

EACH WORD of NIV

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause". 

it is  -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it is" in the Greek source

from within, -- "From" is the adverb meaning "inwardly" or "from within."

out of -- The Greek preposition translated as "out of" means "out of" or "from." In Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases with usually use with "of."

a --  (WW)The word translated as "a" is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

person, -- (WN) The Greek word for "person" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".  This word is not singular but plural.

's -- This word "'s"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

heart -- "Heart" is the Greek word that means "heart" both the physical organ and as the seat of emotions, which we discuss in a larger Greek context in this article here. However, this phrase can be read as defining the "heart" and both the "soul" and "the mind".

 that   -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source

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.

evil -- The word translated as "evil" is an adjective which means many different forms of "bad," including "ugly", "low born", "craven," and "ill." In the NT, it is often translated as "evil." More about it in this article. This word is preceded by an article and follows the word translated as "thoughts."

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. 

thoughts, -- (CW) "Thoughts" is a noun which means "balancing of accounts", "debate", "argument," and "discussion." It can also mean "balancing of accounts", "calculation," and it is the term for a "circuit court." "Thoughts" is not the specific meaning of the word.It is the word from which we get "dialogue."

come-- (CW) "Come" is a verb that means literally, "to make to go or carry out of" and is translated regularly as "to make to go out of", "to fetch out," and "to march out," but in modern English, we would probably say "exit" here.It is not the common verb for "come." It is not active passive, "made to go out."

sexual immorality,  -  (WN) "Sexual immorality" is from a word that which means promiscuity, generally, and "prostitution" for a woman and "fornication" for a man. In English. we would say "sexual affairs" or something similar. This word is not singular but plural. 
 

theft, -- (WN) The word  "theft" is from a word that cover forms of dishonesty from theft to fraud.   This word is not singular but plural.

murder,   - (WN) "Murder" is from a noun that means both homicide and killing as a punishment. This word is not singular but plural. 
 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἔσωθεν [6 verses](adv) "From within" is esothen, which means "from within" and "inward." -- "Within" is the adverb meaning "inwardly."

γὰρ [205 verses] (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for", "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of", "from", "by", "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond", "outside of", "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after", "from;" 4) [of rest] "on", "in," 5) [of time] "since", "from", "at", "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of", "made from."

τῆς [821 verses] (article sg fem gen) "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."

καρδίας [37 verses](noun sg fem gen) "Of heart" is kardia, which means "heart (the physical organ)", "the seat of emotions (especially passion, rage, and anger)", "inclination", "desire," "purpose", "mind", "the pith (in wood), and "the deep (of the sea)."

τῶν [821 verses](article pl 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."

ἀνθρώπων [209 verses] (noun pl masc gen) "Men" is anthropos, which is "man," and, in plural, "mankind." It also means "humanity" and that which is human and opposed to that which is animal or inanimate.

οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) 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."

διαλογισμοὶ [3 verses](noun pl masc nom)"Thoughts" is dialogismos, which means "debate", "argument," and "discussion." It can also mean "balancing of accounts", "calculation," and it is the term for a "circuit court." It isn't usually translated as "thought."

οἱ [821 verses](article pl masc nom) 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." -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, 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", "those"). See this article for more. 

κακοὶ [7 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Evil" is kakos, which means "bad", "mean", "base", "ugly", "ill-born", "evil", "worthless", "sorry", "pernicious," and "ill."

ἐκπορεύονται,   [11 verses]( verb 3rd pl pres ind mp ) "Proceed" is from ekporeuomai, which means "to make to go out", "to fetch out," and "to march out."  --

πορνεῖαι, [4 verses](noun pl fem nom) "Fornications" is porneia which means "unchastity," "prostitution" (for a woman), and "fornication" (for a man). It is a metaphor for idolatry.

κλοπαί ,[2 verses](noun pl fem nom) "Thefts" is from klope, which means "theft", "plagiarism," "fraud," and "stealth."

φόνοι, [2 verses](noun pl masc nom) "Murders" is phonos, which means "murder", "slaughter", "homicide", "death as a punishment," and "killing."

Possible Symbolic Meaning
Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

In Jesus time, the heart was seen as the seat of higher emotions rather than more basic animal ones, which were desires of the belly. This verse describes how these "higher" emotions can lead to base action, starting with disagreements.

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