The Meaning of Mark 7:21 Explained

Mark 7:21

KJV: For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

YLT: for from within, out of the heart of men, the evil reasonings do come forth, adulteries, whoredoms, murders,

Darby: For from within, out of the heart of men, go forth evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

ASV: For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  from within,  out of  the heart  of men,  proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries,  fornications,  murders, 

What does Mark 7:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 7:1-23 - Breaking The Bonds Of Tradition
The Pharisees laid great stress on ritual. They followed endless rules, both intricate and troublesome, as to ablutions and outward ceremonials. So long as their devotees were careful in the minor observances, they were permitted a wide license so far as the weightier matters of the Law were concerned. This is a natural tendency of the human heart. It is glad to be able to reduce its religious life to an outward and literal obedience, if only its thoughts may be unhampered. In the life of true holiness everything depends on the control of the thoughts. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." With infinite wisdom the wise man said, "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life," and Jesus put "evil-thoughts" first in the black category of the contents of the evil heart. A gang of thieves sometimes put a very small boy through a tiny window that he may unlock the front door. So one evil thought will often admit an entire crew of evil. Heart of mine, hast thou learned this lesson? Art thou careful enough of thy cleanliness? That the hands should be often washed, that vessels of household use should be kept cleansed, that there should be decorum and neatness in the outward life, all these customs are good. But it becomes thee to inquire whether thou art not more eager for the outward than the inward cleanliness. "Create in me a clean heart," should be thy constant prayer. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

Greek Commentary for Mark 7:21

Evil thoughts [οι διαλογισμοι οι κακοι]
These come out of the heart (εκ της καρδιας — ek tēs kardias), the inner man, and lead to the dreadful list here given like the crimes of a modern police court: [source]
fornications [πορνειαι]
(πορνειαι — porneiai usually of the unmarried), adulteries (μοιχαιαι — moichaiai of the married), thefts (κλοπαι — klopai stealings), covetings (πλεονεχιαι — pleonexiai craze for more and more), murders (πονοι — phonoi growing out of the others often), wickednesses (πονηριαι — ponēriai from πονος — ponos toil, then drudge, bad like our knave, serving boy like German Knabe, and then criminal), deceit (δολος — dolos lure or snare with bait), lasciviousness (ασελγεια — aselgeia unrestrained sex instinct), evil eye (οπταλμος πονηρος — ophthalmos ponēros) or eye that works evil and that haunts one with its gloating stare, railing (βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), pride (υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
railing [βλασπημια]
(βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), [source]
pride [υπερηπανια]
(υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
foolishness [απροσυνη]
(απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
adulteries [μοιχαιαι]
(μοιχαιαι — moichaiai of the married), [source]
thefts [κλοπαι]
(κλοπαι — klopai stealings), covetings (πλεονεχιαι — pleonexiai craze for more and more), murders (πονοι — phonoi growing out of the others often), wickednesses (πονηριαι — ponēriai from πονος — ponos toil, then drudge, bad like our knave, serving boy like German Knabe, and then criminal), deceit (δολος — dolos lure or snare with bait), lasciviousness (ασελγεια — aselgeia unrestrained sex instinct), evil eye (οπταλμος πονηρος — ophthalmos ponēros) or eye that works evil and that haunts one with its gloating stare, railing (βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), pride (υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
covetings [πλεονεχιαι]
(πλεονεχιαι — pleonexiai craze for more and more), [source]
murders [πονοι]
(πονοι — phonoi growing out of the others often), wickednesses (πονηριαι — ponēriai from πονος — ponos toil, then drudge, bad like our knave, serving boy like German Knabe, and then criminal), deceit (δολος — dolos lure or snare with bait), lasciviousness (ασελγεια — aselgeia unrestrained sex instinct), evil eye (οπταλμος πονηρος — ophthalmos ponēros) or eye that works evil and that haunts one with its gloating stare, railing (βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), pride (υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
wickednesses [πονηριαι]
(πονηριαι — ponēriai from πονος — ponos toil, then drudge, bad like our knave, serving boy like German Knabe, and then criminal), [source]
deceit [δολος]
(δολος — dolos lure or snare with bait), lasciviousness (ασελγεια — aselgeia unrestrained sex instinct), evil eye (οπταλμος πονηρος — ophthalmos ponēros) or eye that works evil and that haunts one with its gloating stare, railing (βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), pride (υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
lasciviousness [ασελγεια]
(ασελγεια — aselgeia unrestrained sex instinct), [source]
evil eye [οπταλμος πονηρος]
(οπταλμος πονηρος — ophthalmos ponēros) or eye that works evil and that haunts one with its gloating stare, railing (βλασπημια — blasphēmia blasphemy, hurtful speech), pride (υπερηπανια — huperēphania holding oneself above others, stuck up), foolishness (απροσυνη — aphrosunē lack of sense), a fitting close to it all. [source]
Evil Thoughts [διαλογισμοὶ οἱ κακοὶ]
Thoughts, those which are evil So Rev., in margin. Thoughts that are evil. The word διαλογισμοὶ , thoughts, does not in itself convey a bad sense; and hence the addition of adjectives denoting evil, as here and James 2:4. Radically, it carries the idea of discussion or debate, with an under-thought of suspicion or doubt, either with one's own mind, as Luke 5:22; Luke 6:8; or with another, Luke 9:46; Philemon 2:14; Romans 14:1. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 7:21

Mark 7:22 Wickedness [πονμρίαι]
Plural. Rev., wickedness. From πονεῖν , to toil. The adjective πονμρός means, first, oppressed by toils; then in bad case or plight, from which it runs into the sense of morally bad. This conception seems to have been associated by the high-born with the life of the lower, laboring, slavish class; just as our word knave (like the German knabe from which it is derived) originally meant simply a boy or a servant-lad. As πόνος means hard, vigorous labor, battle for instance, so the adjective πονμρός , in a moral sense, indicates active wickedness. So Jeremy Taylor: “Aptness to do shrewd turns, to delight in mischiefs and tragedies; a loving to trouble one's neighbor and do him ill offices.” Πονμρός , therefore, is dangerous, destructive. Satan is called ὁ πονηρός , the wicked one. Κακός , evil (see evil thoughts, Mark 7:21), characterizes evil rather as defect: “That which is not such as, according to its nature, destination, and idea it might be or ought to be” (Cremer). Hence of incapacity in war; of cowardice ( κακία ) κακὸς δοῦλος , the evil servant, in Matthew 24:48, is a servant wanting in proper fidelity and diligence. Thus the thoughts are styled evil, as being that which, in their nature and purpose, they ought not to be. Matthew, however (Matthew 15:19), calls these thoughts πονηροί , the thoughts in action, taking shape in purpose. Both adjectives occur in Revelation 16:2. [source]
Luke 11:26 More wicked []
See on Luke 3:19; and Mark 7:21. [source]
Romans 14:1 Doubtful disputations [διακρίσεις διαλογισμῶν]
Lit., judgings of thoughts. The primary meaning of διαλογισμός is a thinking-through or over. Hence of those speculations or reasonings in one's mind which take the form of scruples. See on Mark 7:21. Διάκρισις has the same sense as in the other two passages where it occurs (1 Corinthians 12:10; Hebrews 5:14); discerning with a view to forming a judgment. Hence the meaning is, “receive these weak brethren, but not for the purpose of passing judgment upon their scruples.” [source]
Romans 1:21 Imaginations [διαλογισμοῖς]
Rev., better, reasonings. See on Matthew 15:19; see on Mark 7:21; see on James 2:4. [source]
Romans 1:21 Their senseless heart [η ασυνετος αυτων καρδια]
Καρδια — Kardia is the most comprehensive term for all our faculties whether feeling (Romans 9:2), will (1 Corinthians 4:5), intellect (Romans 10:6). It may be the home of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) or of evil desires (Romans 1:24). See notes on Mark 7:21. for list of vices that come “out of the heart.” Ασυνετος — Asunetos is a verbal adjective from συνιημι — suniēmi to put together, and α — a privative, unintelligent, not able to put together the manifest evidence about God (Romans 1:20). So darkness settled down on their hearts (εσκοτιστη — eskotisthē first aorist ingressive passive of σκοτιζω — skotizō to darken). [source]
Romans 1:21 Knowing God [γνοντες τον τεον]
Second aorist active participle of γινωσκω — ginōskō to know by personal experience. Definite statement that originally men had some knowledge of God. No people, however degraded, have yet been found without some yearning after a god, a seeking to find the true God and get back to him as Paul said in Athens (Acts 17:27). Glorified not as God (ουχ ως τεον εδοχασαν — ouch hōs theon edoxasan). They knew more than they did. This is the reason for the condemnation of the heathen (Romans 2:12-16), the failure to do what they know. Their senseless heart Καρδια — Kardia is the most comprehensive term for all our faculties whether feeling (Romans 9:2), will (1 Corinthians 4:5), intellect (Romans 10:6). It may be the home of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) or of evil desires (Romans 1:24). See notes on Mark 7:21. for list of vices that come “out of the heart.” Ασυνετος — Asunetos is a verbal adjective from συνιημι — suniēmi to put together, and α — a privative, unintelligent, not able to put together the manifest evidence about God (Romans 1:20). So darkness settled down on their hearts (εσκοτιστη — eskotisthē first aorist ingressive passive of σκοτιζω — skotizō to darken). [source]
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported [ακουεται]
Present passive indicative of ακουω — akouō to hear; so literally, it is heard. “Fornication is heard of among you.” Probably the household of Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11) brought this sad news (Ellicott). And such (και τοιαυτη — kai toiautē). Climactic qualitative pronoun showing the revolting character of this particular case of illicit sexual intercourse. Πορνεια — Porneia is sometimes used (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29) of such sin in general and not merely of the unmarried whereas μοιχεια — moicheia is technically adultery on the part of the married (Mark 7:21). As is not even among the Gentiles Height of scorn. The Corinthian Christians were actually trying to win pagans to Christ and living more loosely than the Corinthian heathen among whom the very word “Corinthianize” meant to live in sexual wantonness and license. See Cicero pro Cluentio, v. 14. That one of you hath his father‘s wife (ωστε γυναικα τινα του πατρος εχειν — hōste gunaika tina tou patros echein). “So as (usual force of ωστε — hōste) for one to go on having (εχειν — echein present infinitive) a wife of the (his) father.” It was probably a permanent union (concubine or mistress) of some kind without formal marriage like John 4:8. The woman probably was not the offender‘s mother (step-mother) and the father may have been dead or divorced. The Jewish law prescribed stoning for this crime (Leviticus 18:8; Leviticus 22:11; Deuteronomy 22:30). But the rabbis (Rabbi Akibah) invented a subterfuge in the case of a proselyte to permit such a relation. Perhaps the Corinthians had also learned how to split hairs over moral matters in such an evil atmosphere and so to condone this crime in one of their own members. Expulsion Paul had urged in 2 Thessalonians 3:6 for such offenders. [source]
1 Corinthians 5:1 And such [και τοιαυτη]
Climactic qualitative pronoun showing the revolting character of this particular case of illicit sexual intercourse. Πορνεια — Porneia is sometimes used (Acts 15:20, Acts 15:29) of such sin in general and not merely of the unmarried whereas μοιχεια — moicheia is technically adultery on the part of the married (Mark 7:21). [source]
Philippians 2:14 Disputings [διαλογισμῶν]
See on Mark 7:21. It is doubtful whether disputings is a legitimate meaning. The kindred verb διαλογίζομαι is invariably used in the sense of to reason or discuss, either with another or in one's own mind, Matthew 16:7; Matthew 21:25; Mark 2:6; Luke 12:17. The noun is sometimes rendered thoughts, as Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; but with the same idea underlying it, of a suspicion or doubt, causing inward discussion. See 1 Timothy 2:8. Better here questionings or doubtings. See on Romans 14:1. The murmuring is the moral, the doubting the intellectual rebellion against God. [source]
James 2:4 Judges with evil thoughts [κριται διαλογισμων πονηρων]
Descriptive genitive as in James 1:25. Διαλογισμος — Dialogismos is an old word for reasoning (Romans 1:21). Reasoning is not necessarily evil, but see Matthew 15:19 (πονηροι — ponēroi) and Mark 7:21 (κακοι — kakoi) for evil reasonings, and 1 Timothy 2:8 without an adjective. See James 1:8; James 4:8 for διπσυχος — dipsuchos They are guilty of partiality (a divided mind) as between the two strangers. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Murderers [πονευσιν]
As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21). [source]
Revelation 21:8 For the fearful [τοις δειλοις]
Old word (from δειδω — deidō to fear) for the cowardly, who recanted under persecution, in N.T. only here, Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:40.Unbelieving (απιστοις — apistois). “Faithless,” “untrustworthy,” in contrast with Christ “ο πιστος — ho pistos ” (Revelation 1:5). Cf. Revelation 2:10, Revelation 2:13; Revelation 3:14; Revelation 17:14. Disloyalty is close kin to cowardice.Abominable Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 21:8 Abominable [εβδελυγμενοις]
Perfect passive participle of βδελυσσω — bdelussō old verb, in N.T. only here and Romans 2:22, common in lxx, to pollute (Exod 5:21). Those who have become defiled by the impurities of emperor-worship (Revelation 7:4.; Revelation 21:27; Romans 2:22; Titus 1:16).Murderers (πονευσιν — phoneusin). As a matter of course and all too common always (Mark 7:21; Romans 1:29; Revelation 9:21).Fornicators Again all too common always, then and now (1 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 1:9.). These two crimes often go together.Sorcerers (παρμακοις — pharmakois). Old word, in N.T. only here and Revelation 22:15. Closely connected with idolatry and magic (Revelation 9:21; Revelation 13:13.).Idolaters See 1 Corinthians 5:10.; 1 Corinthians 10:7; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15. With a powerful grip on men‘s lives then and now.All liars (πασι τοις πσευδεσιν — pasi tois pseudesin). Repeated in Revelation 22:15 and stigmatized often (Revelation 2:2; Revelation 3:9; Revelation 14:5; Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:15). Not a “light” sin. [source]
Revelation 9:21 Of their murders [εκ των πονων αυτων]
Heads the list, but “sorceries” (εκ των παρμακων — ek tōn pharmakōn) comes next. Παρμακον — Pharmakon was originally enchantment, as also in Revelation 21:8, then drug. For παρμακια — pharmakia see Revelation 18:23; Galatians 5:20. The two other items are fornication (πορνειας — porneias) and thefts (κλεμματων — klemmatōn old word from κλεπτω — kleptō here alone in N.T.), all four characteristic of demonic worship and idolatry. See other lists of vices in Mark 7:21; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 22:15. Our word “pharmacy” as applied to drugs and medicine has certainly come a long way out of a bad environment, but there is still a bad odour about “patent medicines.” [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 7:21 mean?

Within for from the heart - of men - thoughts evil go forth sexual immorality thefts murders adulteries
ἔσωθεν γὰρ ἐκ τῆς καρδίας τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ διαλογισμοὶ κακοὶ ἐκπορεύονται πορνεῖαι κλοπαί φόνοι μοιχεῖαι

ἔσωθεν  Within 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔσωθεν  
Sense: from within.
καρδίας  heart 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: καρδία  
Sense: the heart.
τῶν  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνθρώπων  of  men 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
διαλογισμοὶ  thoughts 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: διαλογισμός  
Sense: the thinking of a man deliberating with himself.
κακοὶ  evil 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κακός  
Sense: of a bad nature.
ἐκπορεύονται  go  forth 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐκπορεύομαι  
Sense: to go forth, go out, depart.
πορνεῖαι  sexual  immorality 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: πορνεία  
Sense: illicit sexual intercourse.
κλοπαί  thefts 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: κλοπή  
Sense: theft.
φόνοι  murders 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φόνος  
Sense: murder, slaughter.
μοιχεῖαι  adulteries 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: μοιχεία  
Sense: adultery.