Matthew 15:5
New International Version
But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother 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 anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”

Berean Standard Bible
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,’

Berean Literal Bible
But you say, 'Whoever shall say to the father or mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me is a gift,"

King James Bible
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;

New King James Version
But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—

New American Standard Bible
But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,

NASB 1995
“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,”

NASB 1977
“But you say, ‘Whoever shall say to his father or mother, “Anything of mine you might have been helped by has been given to God,

Legacy Standard Bible
But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever you might benefit from me is given to God,”

Amplified Bible
But you say, ‘If anyone says to his father or mother, “Whatever [money or resource that] I have that would help you is [already dedicated and] given to God,”

Christian Standard Bible
But you say, ‘Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple,”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But you say, Whoever tells his father or mother, “Whatever benefit you might have received from me is a gift committed to the temple"—

American Standard Version
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is 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 have has been offered to God.

English Revised Version
But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given to God;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But you say that whoever tells his father or mother, 'I have given to God whatever support you might have received from me,'

Good News Translation
But you teach that if people have something they could use to help their father or mother, but say, 'This belongs to God,'

International Standard Version
But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or his mother, "Whatever support you might have received from me has been given to God,"

Majority Standard Bible
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,’

NET Bible
But you say, 'If someone tells his father or mother, "Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,"

New Heart English Bible
But you say, 'Whoever may tell his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,"

Webster's Bible Translation
But ye say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever thou mightest be profited by me;

Weymouth New Testament
but you--this is what you say: 'If a man says to his father or mother, That is consecrated, whatever it is, which otherwise you should have received from me--

World English Bible
But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to God,”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
but you say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering [is] whatever you may be profited by me—

Berean Literal Bible
But you say, 'Whoever shall say to the father or mother, "Whatever you might be profited by me is a gift,"

Young's Literal Translation
but ye say, Whoever may say to father or mother, An offering is whatever thou mayest be profited by me; --

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye say, Whoever should say to father or mother, A gift, whatever thou shouldest be profited by me;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But you say: Whosoever shall say to father or mother, The gift whatsoever proceedeth from me, shall profit thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But you say: ‘If anyone will have said to father or mother, “It is dedicated, so that whatever is from me will benefit you,”

New American Bible
But you say, ‘Whoever says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is dedicated to God,”

New Revised Standard Version
But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But you say, Whoever says to a father or to a mother, Whatever you may be benefited from me is Corban (my offering), he need not honor his father or his mother.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Now you are saying, 'Everyone who will say to father or mother, 'My offering is anything by which you made a profit from me', should honor neither his father nor his mother.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, Whatever of mine might profit you, is a gift, he must in no way honor his father or his mother;

Godbey New Testament
But you say, Whosoever may say to father or mother, It is a gift, whatsoever you may be profited by me; and he shall no longer honor his father or his mother.

Haweis New Testament
But ye say, If any man declare to his father or mother, This is a devoted gift, which else might have been employed by me for thy advantage;

Mace New Testament
but your doctrine is this, if any man declares to his father or mother, that whatever he has to give for their relief is dedicated to the temple; he is not oblig'd to regard his father or his mother.

Weymouth New Testament
but you--this is what you say: 'If a man says to his father or mother, That is consecrated, whatever it is, which otherwise you should have received from me--

Worrell New Testament
But ye say, 'Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That by which you might be profited by me is an offering,'

Worsley New Testament
but ye say, If any man say to his father or mother, "that which thou mightest be profited by from me is a gift to the temple,"

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Tradition and Worship
4For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ 5But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ 6he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.…

Cross References
Mark 7:11-13
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), / he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. / Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”

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.

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.

Deuteronomy 27:16
‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

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

Matthew 19:19
honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Luke 18:20
You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Exodus 21:17
Anyone who curses his father or mother must surely be put to death.

Proverbs 30:17
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

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


Treasury of Scripture

But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me;

ye say.

Matthew 23:16-18
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! …

Amos 7:15-17
And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel…

Mark 7:10-13
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: …

It is.

Leviticus 27:9
And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

Mark 7:11,12
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

Jump to Previous
Consecrated Devoted Gained Gift Gotten Help Honor Mayest Mightest Mother Need Offering Otherwise Profit Profited Received Tells Whatever Whatsoever Wherewith Wouldest
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Consecrated Devoted Gained Gift Gotten Help Honor Mayest Mightest Mother Need Offering Otherwise Profit Profited Received Tells Whatever Whatsoever Wherewith Wouldest
Matthew 15
1. Jesus reproves the Scribes and Pharisees
7. for transgressing God's commandments through their own traditions;
10. teaches how that which goes into the mouth does not defile a man.
21. He heals the daughter of the woman of Canaan,
29. and other great multitudes;
32. and with seven loaves and a few small fish feeds four thousand men














But you say
This phrase introduces a contrast between the teachings of Jesus and the traditions upheld by the Pharisees and scribes. The Greek word for "say" (λέγω, legō) implies a declaration or assertion, often used to denote authoritative speech. Here, Jesus is highlighting the authoritative yet misguided declarations of the religious leaders, setting the stage for a critique of their practices.

if anyone says
The conditional "if" (ἐάν, ean) introduces a hypothetical scenario that was, in fact, a common practice at the time. The phrase "anyone says" suggests a personal decision or vow, indicating the individual responsibility in the matter. This reflects the personal nature of vows and the weight they carried in Jewish culture.

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 was not only a moral duty but also a legal obligation. The familial context underscores the gravity of the issue, as it involves the most fundamental human relationships.

Whatever you would have received from me
This phrase refers to the support or assistance that children were expected to provide to their parents. The Greek word for "received" (ὠφελέω, opheleō) implies benefit or help, emphasizing the practical and necessary support that was being withheld. This highlights the ethical and social implications of the practice being critiqued.

is a gift devoted to God
The term "gift devoted to God" translates the concept of "Corban," a practice where something was dedicated to God, making it unavailable for any other use. This practice, while seemingly pious, was often used to circumvent the responsibility of caring for one's parents. The critique here is not of the act of devotion itself but of the misuse of religious practices to avoid moral obligations.

(5) It is a gift.--St. Mark (Mark 7:11) gives the Hebrew term, Corban, which was literally applied to that which had been consecrated--theoretically to God, practically to the service or ornamentation of the Temple. In Matthew 27:6, the treasury of the Temple is itself called the Corban. The casuistry of the scribes in this matter seems at first so monstrous that it would be hard to understand how it could have approved itself to any intelligent interpreters of the Law, were it not that the teaching of scholastic and Jesuit moralists presents instances, not less striking, of perverted ingenuity. The train of thought which led them to so startling a conclusion would seem to have been this: to divert to lower human uses that which has been consecrated to God is sacrilege, and therefore a man who turned all his property into a Corban was bound not to expend it on the support even of his nearest relations. But the time of fulfilling the vow of consecration was left to his own discretion, and no one had a right to call him to account for delay. With this loophole, the Corban practice became an easy method of evading natural obligations. It might be pleaded in bar of the claims of nearest relationship, and yet all the while the man might retain the usufruct of his property, and defer the fulfilment of his vow to the last hour of life. It would seem, indeed, that this casuistry went still further, and that the consecration might be only relative, as stopping the claims of this or that person, and expiring when they passed away.

Verse 5. - But ye say. In direct contradiction to what "God commanded" It is a gift, etc. This is better rendered, That wherewith, thou mightest have been benefited by me is Corban; i.e. is given, dedicated to God. The vow to consecrate his savings, even at death, to the temple absolved a man from the duty of succouring his parents. It was further ruled that if a son, from any motive whatever, pronounced any aid to his parents to be corban, he was thenceforward precluded from affording them help, the claims of the commandment and of natural affection and charity being superseded by the vow. He seems to have been allowed to expend the money thus saved on himself or any other object except his father and mother. So gross an evasion of a common duty could not be placed in the same category as the omission of unnecessary washings.

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 anyone
Ὃς (Hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

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
(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'.

‘[The help]
(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.

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


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