Jesus says that what comes out from arguments is what makes a person common.
Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Mark 7:23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.
All these things, the worthless ones, are made to go out from within, and they make the man common.
Note that the verbs here are singular while the subjects ("there" "evils") are plural. This is because neuter plurals take singular verbs in ancient Greek.
Since “make common” also means “make public,” it also means “ to reveal a person.” These verses using the word “make common” are also the only verses where Jesus uses the term “from within.” How does someone reveal what is within? By their actions.
This verse is the switch from the term used for "evil" in Marthew 7:21, which was a Greek word that means "evil" and to a different word here that "worthless" or "base." This difference is discussed extensively in this page.
Our actions eventually reveal the stuff we hide within.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "evil" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "evil" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "come" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "defile" does not capture the word's general meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "evil" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "evil" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "come" is not the common word usually translated as "come."
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "defile" does not capture the word's general meaning.
- WW --Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
All -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether." This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or noun.
these -- The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." It is not typically used as an adjective. This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or 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.
evil -- (CW) The word translated as "evil" means "second-rate" or "worthless." This article explores it meaning in more detail. It is an adjective, but when used as a noun, therefore, "what is worthless." This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or noun. This is not the specific meaning of the word.
things -- There is no Greek word for "things." It comes from the neutral, plural form of the previous adjectives.
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. The verb is singular and either passive or a middle form where something acts on itself.
from within, -- "From within" is the adverb meaning "inwardly."
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".
defile -- (CW) "Defile" is a verb that means "to communicate", "to impart", "to share." Only in Matthew and Mark is it translated as "defile." However, the Judaic idea of "holiness" is connected with having something "set apart" for the Divine, while what is shared among people is consider "common" instead of holy. So sharing something, "making it common," does "defile" something that should be dedicated to the Divine. The Latin word translated this verse in the Latin Vulgate also means "communicate. Only in the English translation, does it become "defiled." See this article.
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.
man. -- The Greek word for "man" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".
All -- The word translated as "all" is the Greek adjective meaning "all", "the whole", "every," and similar ideas. When it is used as a noun, we would say "everything." As an adverb, it means "in every way", "on every side," and "altogether." This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or noun.
these -- The "these" is a pronoun that can mean "this" or "that," the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why." It is not typically used as an adjective. This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or 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.
evils -- (CW) The word translated as "evil" means "second-rate" or "worthless." This article explores it meaning in more detail. It is an adjective, but when used as a noun, therefore, "what is worthless." This word is plural and in the form of a subject or object, which is the same for a neutral adjective or noun. This is not the specific meaning of the word.
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. The verb is singular and either passive or a middle form where something acts on itself.
from inside, -- "From inside" is the adverb meaning "inwardly."
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".
defile -- (CW) "Defile" is a verb that means "to communicate", "to impart", "to share." Only in Matthew and Mark is it translated as "defile." However, the Judaic idea of "holiness" is connected with having something "set apart" for the Divine, while what is shared among people is consider "common" instead of holy. So sharing something, "making it common," does "defile" something that should be dedicated to the Divine. The Latin word translated this verse in the Latin Vulgate also means "communicate. Only in the English translation, does it become "defiled." See this article.
a -- (WW) 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.
person. -- The Greek word for "person" means "man", "person" and "humanity" in the singular. In the plural, it means "men", "people", and "peoples".
πάντα [212 verses] (adj pl neut nom) "All" is pas, which means "all", "the whole", "every", "anyone", "all kinds," and "anything." In the adverbial form, it means "every way", "on every side", "in every way," and "altogether."
ταῦτα [96 verses] ( adj pl neut nom ) "These things" is tauta, which is a referring pronoun meaning "these", "this", "that," and "here." It can mean the nearer or the further depending on usage. As an adverb it can mean "therefore" and "that is why."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut 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."
πονηρὰ [38 verses]( adj pl neut nom ) "Evil" is poneros, which means "burdened by toil", "useless," and "worthless." In a moral sense, it means "worthless", "base," and "cowardly."
ἔσωθεν [6 verses] (adv) "From within" is esothen, which means "from within" and "inward."
ἐκπορεύεται ([11 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind mp ) "Comes" is ekporeuomai, which means "to make to go out," "to fetch out," and "to march out." - - (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 in the form of an adjective used as a noun. It is either passive, "are made to go out" or a form where the subject acts itself "the things bringing themselves "
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."
κοινοῖ [7 verses] ( verb 3rd sg pres ind act ) "Defile" is koinoo, which means "to communicate", "to impart", "to share," and "to make common." Only in Matthew and Mark is it translated as "defile" from the idea that to make something "common" is to defile it. In the original Latin translation of the NT, this word is translated as communicare, which is the source of our word "communicate."
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."
ἄνθρωπον. [209 verses]( noun sg masc acc ) "Of man" 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.
The verb "make common" also has the meaning of "make public" that is, what "reveals" a person.
"All these? The ones worthless."
"Where does this worthlessness come from?"
"From within. It marches itself out and it communicates a person."