Matthew

Matthew 15:2–9

²“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

³Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’^a and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’^b 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.^c Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

⁸‘These people honor Me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

⁹They worship Me in vain;

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’^d”

Footnotes

a 15:4 Exodus 20:12|EXO 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
b 15:4 Exodus 21:17|EXO 21:17; Leviticus 20:9
c 15:6 NE and TR (see also Mark 7:12|MRK 7:12); literally he need not honor his father or mother; SBL, NA, WH, and BYZ do not include or mother.
d 15:9 Isaiah 29:13|ISA 29:13(see also LXX)

Read all of Matthew 15

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Greek it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Matthew 15:2

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Why	Διὰ	Dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
Your	σου	sou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular	G4771 you
disciples	μαθηταί	mathētai	Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural	G3101 a learner, disciple, pupil
break	παραβαίνουσιν	parabainousin	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural	G3845 I transgress
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
tradition	παράδοσιν	paradosin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3862 an instruction, tradition
of the	τῶν	tōn	Article - Genitive Masculine Plural	G3588 the
elders	πρεσβυτέρων	presbyterōn	Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural	G4245 elder
They do not wash	νίπτονται	niptontai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural	G3538 I wash
their	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
hands	χεῖρας	cheiras	Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural	G5495 a hand
before	ὅταν	hotan	Conjunction	G3752 when, whensoever
they eat	ἐσθίωσιν	esthiōsin	Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural	G2068 I eat

Matthew 15:3

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
replied	ἀποκριθεὶς	apokritheis	Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular	G611 I answer, reply
And	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
why	Διὰ	Dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
you	ὑμεῖς	hymeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
break	παραβαίνετε	parabainete	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G3845 I transgress
the	τὴν	tēn	Article - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3588 the
command	ἐντολὴν	entolēn	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G1785 an ordinance, injunction, command
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
for the sake of	διὰ	dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
your	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
tradition	παράδοσιν	paradosin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3862 an instruction, tradition

Matthew 15:4

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
For	γὰρ	gar	Conjunction	G1063 for
God	Θεὸς	Theos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
said	εἶπεν	eipen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
Honor	Τίμα	Tima	Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular	G5091 I value at a price, honor
father	πατέρα	patera	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3962 father, Father, ancestor
and	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
mother	μητέρα	mētera	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3384 a mother
and	καί	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
Anyone who	Ὁ	Ho	Article - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
curses	κακολογῶν	kakologōn	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2551 I speak evil of, curse
father	πατέρα	patera	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3962 father, Father, ancestor
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
mother	μητέρα	mētera	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3384 a mother
must be put to death	τελευτάτω	teleutatō	Verb - Present Imperative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5053 I end, finish, die

Matthew 15:5

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
you	ὑμεῖς	hymeis	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
say that	λέγετε	legete	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G3004 I say, speak
if anyone	Ὃς	Hos	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
says	εἴπῃ	eipē	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular	G2036 to speak or say (by word or writing)
to	τῷ	tō	Article - Dative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
father	πατρὶ	patri	Noun - Dative Masculine Singular	G3962 father, Father, ancestor
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
mother	μητρί	mētri	Noun - Dative Feminine Singular	G3384 a mother
Whatever	ὃ	ho	Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular	G3739 who, which, what, that
you would have received	ὠφεληθῇς	ōphelēthēs	Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Singular	G5623 I help, benefit, do good
from	ἐξ	ex	Preposition	G1537 from out, out from among, from
me	ἐμοῦ	emou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
is a gift devoted	Δῶρον	Dōron	Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular	G1435 a gift, present

Matthew 15:6

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
he need not honor	τιμήσει	timēsei	Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5091 I value at a price, honor
his	αὐτοῦ	autou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
father	πατέρα	patera	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3962 father, Father, ancestor
or	ἢ	ē	Conjunction	G2228 or, than
mother	μητέρα	mētera	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3384 a mother
Thus	καὶ	kai	Conjunction	G2532 and, even, also, namely
you nullify	ἠκυρώσατε	ēkyrōsate	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural	G208 I annul, make of no effect, cancel
the	τὸν	ton	Article - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3588 the
word	λόγον	logon	Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular	G3056 a word, speech, divine utterance, analogy
of God	Θεοῦ	Theou	Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular	G2316 God, a god
for the sake of	διὰ	dia	Preposition	G1223 through, on account of
your	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you
tradition	παράδοσιν	paradosin	Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular	G3862 an instruction, tradition

Matthew 15:7

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
You hypocrites	ὑποκριταί	hypokritai	Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural	G5273 a hypocrite, dissembler
Isaiah	Ἠσαΐας	Ēsaias	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2268 Isaiah
prophesied	ἐπροφήτευσεν	eprophēteusen	Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G4395 I foretell, prophesy
correctly	καλῶς	kalōs	Adverb	G2573 well, nobly, rightly
about	περὶ	peri	Preposition	G4012 about, concerning, around
you	ὑμῶν	hymōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural	G4771 you

Matthew 15:8

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
These	οὗτος	houtos	Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G3778 this, he, she, it
people	λαὸς	laos	Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular	G2992 a people, the crowd
honor	τιμᾷ	tima	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G5091 I value at a price, honor
Me	με	me	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
with their	τοῖς	tois	Article - Dative Neuter Plural	G3588 the
lips	χείλεσίν	cheilesin	Noun - Dative Neuter Plural	G5491 a lip, mouth, shore
but	δὲ	de	Conjunction	G1161 but, on the other hand, and
their	αὐτῶν	autōn	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural	G846 he, she, it, they, them, same
hearts	καρδία	kardia	Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular	G2588 the heart, inner life, intention
are far	ἀπέχει	apechei	Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular	G568 I have in full, am far, it is enough
from	ἀπ’	ap’	Preposition	G575 from, away from
Me	ἐμοῦ	emou	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular	G1473 I

Matthew 15:9

English	Greek	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
They worship	σέβονταί	sebontai	Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural	G4576 I reverence, worship
Me	με	me	Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular	G1473 I
in vain	Μάτην	Matēn	Adverb	G3155 in vain
they teach	Διδάσκοντες	Didaskontes	Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural	G1321 I teach
doctrine	διδασκαλίας	didaskalias	Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural	G1319 instruction, teaching
precepts	ἐντάλματα	entalmata	Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural	G1778 an injunction, ordinance, precept
of men	ἀνθρώπων	anthrōpōn	Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural	G444 a man, one of the human race