Mark 7:3

3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.

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Mark 7:3 in Other Translations

KJV

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

ESV

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

NLT

3 (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions.

MSG

3 The Pharisees - Jews in general, in fact - would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing,

CSB

3 (For the Pharisees, in fact all the Jews, will not eat unless they wash their hands ritually, keeping the tradition of the elders.

Mark 7:3 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 7:3

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews
The far greater part of them; all, excepting the Sadducees; and especially the Pharisees, were very tenacious of this tradition of washing hands before eating: hence Pharisees are described as such, (hrhjb) (Nhylwx ylkwa) , "that eat their common food with cleanness" ^F14, i.e. of hands: these,

except they wash their hands oft, eat not;
or except they wash very cautiously, with great care, diligence, and exactness, as the Syriac version suggests; and about which there are various rules given, to be observed with great strictness ^F15. Some render the words, "they wash their hands to the elbow"; and this is a rule with the Jews, which is closely to be abode by, that the washing of hands is to be, (qrp de) , "to the joint", which joins the hand and arm together ^F16: particularly it is observed ^F17, that

``washing of the hands for the eating of the offering, is unto the elbow, and for common food, to the joints of the fingers: he that eats with an ancient man, and does not wash his hands to the elbow, he may not eat with him.''

Well may it be added,

holding the tradition of the elders;
nor do the Jews pretend the authority of the Scriptures as obliging them to such rules; for, they say, the command concerning washing of hands is, (Myrpwo yrbdm) , "from the words of the Scribes" ^F18; and is (Mymkx twum) , "a command of the wise men" ^F19. The tradition is this:

``they wash hands for common food, but for the tithe, and for the first offering, and for that which is holy, they dip them, and for the sin offering; for if the hands are defiled; the body is defiled ^F20.''

And this tradition of the elders, the Scribes, and Pharisees, strictly observed.

FOOTNOTES:

F14 Gloss in T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 18. 2. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Chagiga, c. 2. sect. 7.
F15 Vid. Maimon. Hilch. Bcracot, c. 6.
F16 T. Bab. Cholin, fol. 106. 1, 2. Maimon. Hilch. Beracot, c. 6. 4. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Eracin, c. 5. sect. 1. Zohar in Deut. fol. 115. 2.
F17 T. Hieros. Betacot, fol. 12. 1.
F18 Maimon. Hilch. Mikvaot, c. 11. sect. 1.
F19 Ib. Beracot, c. 6. sect. 2.
F20 Misn. Chagiga, c. 2. sect. 5.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Mark 7:3 In-Context

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus

2 and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed.

3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.

4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. )

5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”