Mark 7:11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever you would have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God),

◄ Mark 7:11 ►

New International Version
But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—

New Living Translation
But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.’

English Standard Version
But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)—

Berean Standard Bible
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),

Berean Literal Bible
But you say that if a man says to the father or the mother, 'Whatever you might be profited from me, it is Corban,' that is, a gift,

King James Bible
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

New King James Version
But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God),

New American Standard Bible
but you say, ‘If a person says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is, given to God),’

NASB 1995
but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’

NASB 1977
but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, anything of mine you might have been helped by is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’

Legacy Standard Bible
but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever you might benefit from me is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’

Amplified Bible
but you [Pharisees and scribes] say, ‘If a man tells his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you is Corban, (that is to say, already a gift to God),”’

Christian Standard Bible
But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is corban ’ ” (that is, an offering devoted to God),

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you say, If a man tells his father or mother: Whatever benefit you might have received from me is Corban” (that is, a gift committed to the temple),

American Standard Version
but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God;

Contemporary English Version
But you let people get by without helping their parents when they should. You let them say that what they own has been offered to God.

English Revised Version
but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But you say, 'If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is [corban] (that is, an offering to God),

Good News Translation
But you teach that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother, but say, 'This is Corban' (which means, it belongs to God),

International Standard Version
But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or mother, "Whatever support you might have received from me is Corban,"' (that is, an offering to God)

Majority Standard Bible
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God),

NET Bible
But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, 'Whatever help you would have received from me is corban' (that is, a gift for God),

New Heart English Bible
But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;"'

Webster's Bible Translation
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

Weymouth New Testament
But *you* say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God)

World English Bible
But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,”’” that is to say, given to God,

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and you say, If a man may say to father or to mother, Korban (that is, a gift), [is] whatever you may be profited out of mine,

Berean Literal Bible
But you say that if a man says to the father or the mother, 'Whatever you might be profited from me, it is Corban,' that is, a gift,

Young's Literal Translation
and ye say, If a man may say to father or to mother, Korban (that is, a gift), is whatever thou mayest be profited out of mine,

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye say, If a man say to father or mother, Corban, which is, a gift, whatever thou be profited by me;

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
But you say: If a man shall say to his father or mother, Corban, (which is a gift,) whatsoever is from me, shall profit thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But you say, ‘If a man will have said to his father or mother: Korban, (which is a gift) whatever is from me will be to your benefit,’

New American Bible
Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban” ’ (meaning, dedicated to God),

New Revised Standard Version
But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban’ (that is, an offering to God )—

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
But you say, If a man may say to his father or his mother, What is left over is Corban (my offering);

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But you say, “If a man shall say to his father or to his mother, 'My offering is anything that you shall gain from me.'

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
But you say: If a man shall say to his father or mother, What ever of mine might benefit you, is Corban, (which means, a gift,)

Godbey New Testament
But you say, If a man may say to father or mother, Corban, that is a gift, whatsoever you may be profited by me;

Haweis New Testament
But ye affirm, If a man say to his father or mother, it is Corban (that is, a gift), which otherwise might have been advantageous to thee from me;

Mace New Testament
but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple;

Weymouth New Testament
But *you* say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God)

Worrell New Testament
But ye say, 'If a man say to his father or mother, That wherewith you might be profited by me is Corban,' that is, 'an offering to God,'

Worsley New Testament
but ye say, If a man tell his father or mother, That which thou mightest be profited by from me is Corban, (that is, a gift to the temple) it sufficeth:

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Tradition and Worship
…10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 15:5-6
But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ / he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), / “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

Proverbs 28:24
He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.

Malachi 1:6
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’

Matthew 23:16-18
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred? / And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’

2 Timothy 3:2
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Leviticus 20:9
If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death. He has cursed his father or mother; his blood shall be upon him.

Proverbs 20:20
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

Romans 1:30
slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents.

Treasury of Scripture

But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me; he shall be free.

It is Corban.

Matthew 15:5
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

Matthew 23:18
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

1 Timothy 5:4-8
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God…

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Mark 7

1. The Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with unwashed hands.
8. They break the commandment of God by the traditions of men.
14. Food defiles not the man.
24. He heals the Syrophenician woman's daughter of an unclean spirit;
31. and one that was deaf, and stammered in his speech.

Berean Study Bible

But you say
This phrase introduces a contrast between the teachings of Jesus and the traditions upheld by the Pharisees and scribes. The "you" refers to the religious leaders who were challenging Jesus. In the Greek, "you say" (ὑμεῖς λέγετε) emphasizes the authority they claimed in interpreting the law, yet Jesus highlights their deviation from God's commandments. This sets the stage for a critique of human traditions that override divine law.

that if a man says
This conditional phrase introduces a hypothetical scenario that was likely a common practice at the time. The Greek word for "says" (εἴπῃ) implies a declaration or vow, which was a serious matter in Jewish culture. Vows were binding and considered sacred, reflecting the importance of one's word and commitment in ancient society.

to his father or mother
The mention of "father or mother" directly ties this teaching to the commandment to honor one's parents, found in Exodus 20:12. In Jewish tradition, honoring parents included providing for them in their old age. The family unit was central to Jewish life, and this responsibility was both a social and religious duty.

‘Whatever you would have received from me
This phrase indicates the support or assistance that parents would expect from their children. In the cultural context, children were expected to care for their aging parents, providing financial and material support. This expectation was not only a social norm but also a fulfillment of the commandment to honor one's parents.

is Corban’
The term "Corban" (Κορβᾶν) is of Hebrew origin, meaning a gift or offering dedicated to God. By declaring something as Corban, a person could effectively withhold resources from their parents under the guise of religious devotion. This practice is critiqued by Jesus as it allowed individuals to neglect their familial responsibilities while appearing pious.

(that is, a gift committed to God)
This explanatory note clarifies the meaning of Corban for the audience. It underscores the tension between genuine religious devotion and the misuse of religious practices to circumvent moral obligations. The phrase highlights the danger of legalism, where the letter of the law is followed but the spirit is ignored.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) It is Corban.--The Hebrew word is peculiar to St. Mark. It occurs frequently in Leviticus and Numbers (e.g., Leviticus 2:1; Leviticus 2:5; Numbers 7:3; Numbers 7:5), and is translated generally by "offering," sometimes by "oblation" (Leviticus 2:13; Leviticus 3:1), but elsewhere in the Old Testament it only appears in Ezekiel 20:28; Ezekiel 40:43. It had come to be applied specifically (as in the Greek of Matthew 27:6; Jos. Wars, ii. 9, ? 4) to the sacred treasure of the Temple. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 11-13. - But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given to God - these words, "that is to say, Given to God," are St. Mark's explanation of "corban" - ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother; making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered. Now, this the scribes and Pharisees did for their own covetous ends. For most of them were priests, who received offerings made to God as his ministers, and then converted them to their own uses. In this they greatly erred; because the obligation of piety by which children are bound to support their parents when they need it, is a part of the law of nature, to which every vow, every oblation, ought to yield. Thus, if any one had devoted his goods to God, and his father or his mother became needy, those goods ought to be given to his parents and not to the temple. The word "corban" is a Hebrew word, meaning "that which is brought near," "a gift or offering to God." Hence, figuratively, the place where these offerings were deposited was called the "corbanas," or, "sacred treasury" (see Matthew 27:6, κορβανᾶν). Hence to say of anything, "It is Corban," was to say that it had a prior and more sacred destination. And when it was something that a parent might need, to say, "It is Corban," i.e. it is already appropriated to another purpose, was simply to refuse his request and to deny him assistance, and so to break one of the first of the Divine commandments. Thus the son, by crying "Corban" to his needy parents, shut their mouths, by opposing to them a scruple of conscience, and suggesting to them a superstitious fear. It was as much as to say, "That which you ask of me is a sacred thing which I have devoted to God. Beware, therefore, lest you, by asking this of me, commit sacrilege by converting it to your own uses." Thus the parents would be silenced and alarmed, choosing rather to perish of hunger than to rob God. To such extremities did these covetous scribes and Pharisees drive their victims, compelling a son to abstain from any kind offices for his father or his mother. St. Ambrose says, "God does not seek a gift wrung out of the necessities of parents." Making void (ἀκυροῦντες); literally, depriving it of its authority, annulling. In Galatians 3:17 the same word is rendered "disannul." By your traditions; the traditions, that is, by which they taught children to say "Corban" to their parents. Observe the words, "your tradition" (τῇ παρδόσει ὑμῶν); your tradition, as opposed to those Divine traditions which God has sanctified, and his Church has handed down from the beginning. And many such like things ye do. This is added by St. Mark to fill up the outline, and to show that this was only a sample of the many ways in which the commandment of God was twisted, distorted, and annulled by these rabbinical traditions.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

say that
λέγετε (legete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

if
Ἐὰν (Ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

a man
ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

says
εἴπῃ (eipē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to [his]
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

father
πατρὶ (patri)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

or
ἢ (ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

mother,
μητρί (mētri)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3384: A mother. Apparently a primary word; a 'mother'.

‘Whatever
Ὃ (Ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you would have received
ὠφεληθῇς (ōphelēthēs)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 5623: To help, benefit, do good, be useful (to), profit. From the same as opheleia; to be useful, i.e. To benefit.

from
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

me
ἐμοῦ (emou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

[is] Corban’
Κορβᾶν (Korban)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2878: A gift, offering, anything consecrated to God.

(that
ὅ (ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

is,
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

a gift committed to God),
Δῶρον (Dōron)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1435: A gift, present. A present; specially, a sacrifice.

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NT Gospels: Mark 7:11 But you say 'If a man tells (Mar Mk Mr)