These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Parallel translations
- WEB These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”
- BSB These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”
- NKJV These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
- NASB These are the things that defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.”
- NLT These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus concludes that these heart-sins are what truly defile, while eating with unwashed hands does not. It matters because it settles the dispute that began the chapter.
Overview
Returning to the original controversy, Jesus declares that ceremonial hand-washing has no bearing on real defilement. What defiles is the moral corruption of the heart expressed in sinful acts and words. This closes his teaching by clearly distinguishing human tradition from God's true concern. The passage as a whole points to the inner cleansing only Christ can accomplish.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Mark 7:3–4For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
- Matt 23:25–26Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
- Eph 5:3–6But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
- 1 Cor 6:9–11Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
- 1 Cor 6:18–20Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
- Luke 11:38–40And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
- Rev 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
- 1 Cor 3:16–17Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
- Matt 15:2Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
- Rev 21:8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 15:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.