Mark 7:19

KJV

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

KJV (with Strong's)

Because {G3754} it entereth {G1531} not {G3756} into {G1519} his {G846} heart {G2588}, but {G235} into {G1519} the belly {G2836}, and {G2532} goeth out {G1607} into {G1519} the draught {G856}, purging {G2511} all {G3956} meats {G1033}?

Complete Jewish Bible

For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and it passes out into the latrine." (Thus he declared all foods ritually clean.)

Berean Standard Bible

because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.)

American Standard Version

because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 7:19 serves as a pivotal editorial comment by the evangelist Mark, clarifying Jesus' radical teaching on true defilement. It asserts that what enters a person from the outside, specifically food, does not spiritually contaminate because it passes through the digestive system and is expelled, thus implicitly declaring all foods clean. This verse fundamentally shifts the understanding of purity from external ritualistic adherence to the internal condition of the heart, laying groundwork for the early church's freedom from Old Testament dietary laws.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 7:19 concludes Jesus' private explanation to His disciples following a public confrontation with the Pharisees and scribes, who criticized His disciples for not observing the traditional hand-washing rituals before eating. The preceding verses, particularly [Mark 7:14-18](/mark/7-14-18 "Mark 7:14-18 - Jesus' Teaching on Defilement"), record Jesus' teaching that nothing external entering a person can defile them, but rather what comes out of the heart. Verse 19 is widely understood as Mark's parenthetical clarification of the profound implications of Jesus' words, emphasizing that the physical process of digestion renders food incapable of spiritual defilement, thereby making all foods permissible. This sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent detailed list of evil intentions that truly defile a person, found in [Mark 7:20-23](/mark/7-20-23 "Mark 7:20-23 - What Truly Defiles a Person").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, particularly among the Pharisees, placed immense importance on ritual purity laws derived from the Mosaic Law and, increasingly, from an elaborate system of oral traditions (the "tradition of the elders"). These traditions extended purity regulations to daily life, including hand-washing before meals, the cleanliness of vessels, and specific dietary restrictions (kosher laws). The concern was not merely hygiene but spiritual defilement that could render one unfit for worship or fellowship. Jesus' teaching directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural and religious framework, asserting that God's primary concern was not with external adherence to such traditions but with the internal state of one's moral and spiritual being. This radical redefinition of purity was revolutionary and directly opposed the prevailing religious paradigm of His day.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme in [Mark 7](/mark/7 "Mark 7 - True Purity and Defilement") is the redefinition of purity and defilement. Jesus shifts the focus from external rituals and dietary laws, which were central to Jewish religious practice, to the internal disposition of the heart. This passage underscores the theme of **internal purity over external rituals**, arguing that true defilement originates from sinful thoughts and intentions within a person, not from what they consume. It also introduces the theme of **the authority of Jesus over tradition**, as He challenges and ultimately supersedes the "tradition of the elders" and even implications of the Mosaic Law regarding food. Furthermore, Mark's commentary in [Mark 7:19](/mark/7-19 "Mark 7:19 - All Foods Declared Clean") foreshadows the **abolition of Old Testament dietary laws**, a significant theological development that would later become a cornerstone of early Christian mission and identity, as seen in the vision of Peter in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter's Vision and Cornelius").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Meats (Greek, _brōma'_):** From the base of *bibrōskō* (to eat), this term refers to food in general, whether literally consumed or figuratively, and specifically includes articles allowed or forbidden by Jewish law. In this context, it encompasses all types of food, clean or unclean, that were subject to the Mosaic dietary regulations.
* **Draught (Greek, _aphedrōn'_):** This word denotes a place of sitting apart, specifically a privy or latrine. Its use here vividly emphasizes the physical, non-spiritual process of digestion and excretion, highlighting that food, once consumed, is processed as mere physical matter and expelled, thus having no capacity to defile one spiritually.
* **Purging (Greek, _katharízō'_):** Meaning "to cleanse, make clean, purge, or purify," this participle is crucial. While grammatically it describes the digestive process ("it goes out... purging"), scholars widely interpret it as an editorial comment by Mark, indicating the *result* or *implication* of Jesus' teaching: by declaring that food does not defile, Jesus effectively "purged" or "made clean" all foods, removing the distinction between clean and unclean foods for His followers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly":** This clause explains *why* food does not defile. Jesus contrasts the "heart" (the seat of moral and spiritual life, intentions, and thoughts) with the "belly" (the physical digestive organ). Food enters the physical body, not the spiritual core of a person. This emphasizes that defilement is a spiritual and moral issue, not a physical one related to consumption.
* **"and goeth out into the draught":** This continues the explanation of the physical process. Food is digested and then expelled as waste. The graphic nature of "draught" (latrine/privy) underscores the purely physical, transient nature of food's journey through the body. It highlights that food, unlike sinful thoughts, does not linger in a way that can corrupt one's inner being.
* **"purging all meats?":** As discussed in "Key Word Analysis," this is Mark's interpretative comment. The KJV renders it as a question, but most modern translations (and scholarly consensus) understand it as a declarative statement or a parenthetical gloss by Mark. It signifies that by explaining the physical, non-defiling nature of food, Jesus effectively declared all foods clean, thereby abrogating the Old Testament dietary laws. This was a profound theological statement with massive implications for the early church.

#### Literary Devices
Mark's use of a **Parenthetical Comment/Gloss** in this verse is a significant literary device. While the KJV presents it as a question, the Greek structure and scholarly consensus indicate that "purging all meats" (or "thus making all foods clean") is Mark's own editorial insertion, clarifying the radical implication of Jesus' teaching for his Gentile audience. This allows Mark to explicitly state a theological truth derived from Jesus' words, even if Jesus Himself did not utter those exact words in that specific context. Furthermore, Jesus employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing the "heart" and the "belly," highlighting the distinction between internal moral defilement and external physical processes. The vivid imagery of "goeth out into the draught" serves as a form of **Euphemism** or **Graphic Detail**, using a common, albeit indelicate, term to emphasize the mundane, non-spiritual nature of digestion and excretion, thereby reinforcing the argument that food cannot defile.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 7:19 is a watershed moment in biblical theology, marking a definitive shift from external ritual purity to internal moral purity. It asserts that spiritual defilement originates from the heart, where evil thoughts and intentions reside, rather than from what one consumes. This declaration by Jesus, clarified by Mark, effectively liberates believers from the intricate web of Old Testament dietary laws, paving the way for a universal gospel unburdened by such cultural distinctions. It emphasizes that true righteousness is a matter of the heart's condition before God, not adherence to outward observances. This principle finds its echoes throughout the New Testament, shaping the early church's understanding of freedom in Christ and the nature of sin.

* [Acts 10:15](/acts/10-15 "Acts 10:15 - Peter's Vision of Clean and Unclean Animals")
* [Romans 14:14](/romans/14-14 "Romans 14:14 - Paul on Clean and Unclean Food")
* [Matthew 15:18-20](/matthew/15-18-20 "Matthew 15:18-20 - What Comes Out of the Mouth Defiles")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 7:19 calls us to a profound introspection, challenging us to look beyond superficial religious practices and traditions to the true wellspring of our spiritual health: the heart. In a world often preoccupied with external appearances, social media personas, and performative piety, Jesus' teaching reminds us that God's primary concern is with our inner being – our thoughts, motives, and desires. This verse frees us from the burden of legalism, affirming that no food or external custom can defile us in God's eyes. However, this freedom is not a license for moral laxity but a call to greater vigilance over our hearts, recognizing that true sin originates from within. It encourages us to cultivate a heart that is pure, loving, and aligned with God's will, rather than merely adhering to external rules.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might I be prioritizing external religious practices or traditions over the internal condition of my heart?**
* **What "foods" or external influences do I mistakenly believe can defile me, and how does Mark 7:19 challenge that belief?**
* **What specific thoughts, desires, or intentions from my heart might be truly defiling me, and how can I address them in light of Jesus' teaching?**

### FAQ

**Does Mark 7:19 mean that Christians can eat anything they want without any moral considerations?**

Answer: Mark 7:19 primarily addresses the issue of ritual purity concerning food, declaring that food itself does not defile a person spiritually. This means the Old Testament dietary laws are no longer binding for Christians. However, this freedom does not negate other moral considerations related to food. For example, Christians are still called to exercise temperance and not be enslaved by appetites ([1 Corinthians 6:12](/1_corinthians/6-12 "1 Corinthians 6:12 - All Things Are Lawful")), to consider the conscience of weaker brothers and sisters ([Romans 14:13-23](/romans/14-13-23 "Romans 14:13-23 - Do Not Cause Others to Stumble")), and to practice good stewardship of their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit ([1 Corinthians 6:19-20](/1_corinthians/6-19-20 "1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - Your Body is a Temple")). So, while the verse removes ritual prohibitions, it does not remove the broader ethical and spiritual responsibilities related to our eating habits.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 7:19, particularly Mark's interpretive gloss, points profoundly to the Christ-centered fulfillment of the Old Covenant. By declaring all foods clean, Jesus, through His teaching, effectively abolished the ceremonial dietary laws that were a significant part of Israel's distinct identity under the Law. This act foreshadows His ultimate work on the cross, where He would fulfill the Law, not abolish it, thereby establishing a new covenant based on grace and internal transformation rather than external observances ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). The ceremonial laws, including dietary restrictions, were shadows pointing to the reality found in Christ ([Colossians 2:16-17](/colossians/2-16-17 "Colossians 2:16-17 - Shadows of the Things to Come")). Jesus' teaching here, confirmed by the Holy Spirit's revelation to Peter in [Acts 10](/acts/10 "Acts 10 - Peter's Vision and the Conversion of Cornelius"), dismantled barriers between Jew and Gentile, creating one new humanity in Christ where external distinctions no longer determine spiritual standing ([Ephesians 2:14-16](/ephesians/2-14-16 "Ephesians 2:14-16 - Christ Our Peace")). Thus, Mark 7:19 is not merely about food; it is a foundational statement about the universal scope of the gospel, made possible by Christ's transformative work, which purifies not just foods, but hearts, making all who believe clean before God ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses Our Consciences")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 15:17

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

Acts 11:9

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.

1 Corinthians 6:13

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Luke 11:41

But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Romans 14:1

¶ Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.

Romans 14:12

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Colossians 2:21

(Touch not; taste not; handle not;