7:11–12

In the Berean Standard Bible, 7:11–12 forms one long sentence. It follows the Greek structure and includes a quotation within a quotation within Jesus’ words. In many languages it will be impossible to use these embedded quotations. See the General Comment on 7:11–12 at the end of 7:12 for ways to restructure these verses.

7:11a

But you say: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But you say contrasts with “Moses said” in 7:10. Jesus emphasized that Moses taught God’s commands, but the Pharisees and teachers of the law taught human traditions. Not only did they abandon God’s laws, they also taught people to do the same thing.

In many languages it will be difficult to translate 7:11b–7:12 as the content of the verb say. It may be more natural to introduce their teaching in a more general way. For example:

Your teaching is quite different.
-or-
You teach/say the opposite.

What the Pharisees and teachers of the law were saying is stated in 7:12. They were forbidding people to help their parents. In some languages, forbidding or not permitting something is referred to as something that is done rather than said. So in those languages you may need to translate this as:

But this is what you do.

you: The pronoun you is emphatic in the Greek text. It refers to the Pharisees.

7:11b

if a man says to his father or mother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as if introduces a condition. The Pharisees and teachers of the law said that if people said these words, they did not have to obey God’s law.

a man: The words a man refer to anyone. For example, the God’s Word says:

If a person

7:11c

Whatever you would have received from me: The Greek phrase the Berean Standard Bible translates as Whatever you would have received from me is literally “whatever by me you might have benefited.”

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Anything I have which might have been used for your benefit (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Whatever help you would have received from me (NET Bible)
-or-
if people have something they could use to help their father or mother (Good News Bible)

Whatever you would have received: The phrase Whatever you would have received refers to practical help such as money or food. It also refers to any other gift that would make life easier for the person’s parents.

Corban: The word that the Berean Standard Bible transliterates as Corban is a Hebrew word. It refers to “something set aside as a gift for God.” Therefore, other people could not use it.

According to Jewish tradition, a Jew could announce that something was Corban or dedicated to God. When he did that, the person to whom he announced it would not be allowed to use that thing. Even though the thing belonged to God, the Jew did not have to give that thing as an offering. He could keep it for himself. Jesus knew that the Pharisees and teachers of the law did this for a selfish reason. They did it in order to keep things for themselves and avoid caring for their parents.

You can translate Corban in two ways.

• Transliterate the word Corban. For example, the Good News Bible says:

This is Corban.

• Do not include the word Corban and just make the meaning clear. For example, the New Living Translation says:

For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.

If you do this you will not have to translate 7:11d separately.

7:11d

that is, a gift devoted to God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that is, a gift devoted to God is literally “which is a gift/offering.” This phrase is in parentheses in the Berean Standard Bible. This shows that Mark wrote these words to explain the meaning of “Corban.” You should make this clear in a way that is natural in your language.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

that is, a gift for God (NET Bible)
-or-
that is, an offering to God (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
which means, it belongs to God (Good News Bible)

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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