Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 7

With defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands—the first word means literally common. This came to be associated, as in Acts 10:14, with what was “unclean,” and so, for Jews in any case, the word acquired a new meaning. St. Mark’s Gentile readers, however, were not likely to understand what was meant by “common hands,” and therefore he adds his explanation of “unwashed.”

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews.—For the sake of the same class of readers, St. Mark adds another explanatory note. The custom of which he speaks was not, he says, peculiar to the Pharisees as a sect; it had passed, through their influence, to the whole body of the people.

Oft.—The Greek manuscripts present two readings, one of which has this as its natural meaning; another, which means literally, "with the fist," and figuratively, "with might and main." The evidence is, on the whole, in favour of the former.

Except they wash.—The Greek verb differs from that in the previous verse and implies the washing or immersion (the verb from which our word “baptize” is derived) of the whole body, while the former refers to washing only a part. The idea on which the practice rested was not one of cleanliness or health, but of arrogant exclusiveness, focusing on the thought of ceremonial purity. They might have come, in the crowd of the market, into passing contact with a Gentile, and his touch was as defiling as if it had been that of a corpse. So, too, the washing of cups and similar items was because they might have been touched by heathen, and therefore impure, lips.

Washing.—Literally, baptism; but the form of the word is masculine, while that used for the sacramental rite is neuter. The masculine form occurs again, probably in the same sense, meaning ablutions generally, in Hebrews 6:2.

Pots.—The Greek word (xestes) may be noted as a corrupt form of sextarius, and therefore taking its place among the Latin words used by Saint Mark. (See Introduction.)

Tables.—Better, couches—that is, the low, wide benches placed near the tables, on which the guests reclined instead of sitting. These also had to be scrupulously washed because it was possible that a heathen might have lain on them. The word is, perhaps, used in the same sense in Mark 4:21.

With unwashen hands.—The better manuscripts give, “with defiled hands,” the word being the same as before. It was probable that the Pharisees would use the stronger word in their question, equally probable that a transcriber might think it better to substitute that which was the more easily understood.

Well hath Esaias prophesied.—Strictly, well did Esaias prophesy.