Mark 7:7
 Mark 7:7 
New International Version (©2011)
They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'

New Living Translation (©2007)
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'

English Standard Version (©2001)
in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They worship Me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commands of men.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Their worship of me is worthless, because they teach human rules as doctrines.'

NET Bible (©2006)
They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
'And in vain they pay reverence to me as they teach doctrines of commandments of the sons of men.'

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.'

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

American King James Version
However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

American Standard Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And in vain to they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men.

Darby Bible Translation
But in vain do they worship me, teaching as their teachings commandments of men.

English Revised Version
But in vain do they worship me, Teaching as their doctrines the precepts of men.

Webster's Bible Translation
But, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Weymouth New Testament
But idle is their devotion while they lay down precepts which are mere human rules.'

World English Bible
But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

Young's Literal Translation
and in vain do they worship Me, teaching teachings, commands of men;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:1-13 One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonial law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart which Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to die that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if a man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a device to free him from the claim of this duty.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Howbeit, in vain do they worship me,.... This is the continuation of the citation out of Isaiah, as is also what follows:

teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. As all these traditions mentioned were such; as washing their hands before they ate bread, and their whole bodies, when they came from the market, or from any court of judicature, or concourse of men, where they had been touched by the common people, and the washing of cups, pots, brazen vessels, and tables, or beds; these they taught the people, and enjoined them the observance of them: instead of instructing them in the doctrines of the Bible, respecting the Messiah, and salvation by him, the right fear, and true worship of God, his ordinances and statutes; wherefore their worship of him, though attended with a great show of sanctity and religion, was a vain thing, a mere empty thing, devoid of life, power, and spirituality, unacceptable to God, and of no real use, profit, and advantage to themselves: it neither issued in the glory of God, nor brought any true pleasure, or solid peace to themselves; and they would find, by sad experience, that their hope of being in the favour of God, and of enjoying eternal happiness on account of it, would prove a vain hope; See Gill on Matthew 15:9.


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Tradition and Vain Worship
6He answered and said to them, Well has Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7However, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do. …

Isaiah 29:13 The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Matthew 15:9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'"