Matthew 15 · Verse 11

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:11, King James Version

Matthew 15:11 in other translations

BSB	A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”
WEB	That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
ASV	Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man.
YLT	not that which is coming into the mouth doth defile the man, but that which is coming forth from the mouth, this defileth the man.'
DARBY	Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man; but what goes forth out of the mouth, this defiles the man.
BBE	Not that which goes into the mouth makes a man unclean, but that which comes out of the mouth.
Webster	Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

What does Matthew 15:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man--This is expressed even more emphatically in Mark (Mr 7:15, 16), and it is there added, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." As in Mt 13:9, this so oft-repeated saying seems designed to call attention to the fundamental and universal character of the truth it refers to.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. Not that which goeth into the mouth, The disciples were charged with being sinners for transgressing the tradition of the elders, in eating with unwashed hands. Christ replies, that what they should eat could not render them sinners. The man, the moral agent, the soul, could not be polluted by anything that was eaten. What proceeds from the man himself, from his heart, would defile him.

Defileth. To pollute, corrupt, to render sinful.

Mt 15:10

(h) "Not that" Acts 10:15, Rom 14:14,20, 1Timm 4:4, Tit 1:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth - This is an answer to the carping question of the Pharisees, mentioned Mat 15:2, Why do thy disciples eat with unwashed hands? To which our Lord here replies, That what goes into the mouth defiles not the man; i.e. that if, in eating with unwashed hands, any particles of dust, etc., cleaving to the hands, might happen to be taken into the mouth with the food, this did not defile, did not constitute a man a sinner; for it is on this alone the question hinges: thy disciples eat with unwashed hands; therefore they are sinners; for they transgress the tradition of the elders, i.e. the oral law, which they considered equal in authority to the written law; and, indeed, often preferred the former to the latter, so as to make it of none effect, totally to destroy its nature and design, as we have often seen in the preceding notes. That which cometh out of the mouth - That is, what springs from a corrupt unregenerate heart - a perverse will and impure passions - these defile, i.e. make him a sinner.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 15:10-20

Christ shows that the defilement they ought to fear, was not from what entered their mouths as food, but from what came out of their mouths, which showed the wickedness of their hearts. Nothing will last in the soul but the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit; and nothing should be admitted into the church but what is from above; therefore, whoever is offended by a plain, seasonable declaration of the truth, we…

Read the full comment on Matthew 15:10-20 →

Matthew 15:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐouNotG3756

τὸtowhatG3588

εἰσερχόμενονeiserchomenonis enteringG1525

εἰςeisintoG1519

τὸtotheG3588

στόμαstomamouthG4750

κοινοῖkoinoidefilesG2840

τὸνtontheG3588

ἄνθρωπον,anthrōponman,G444

ἀλλὰallabutG235

τὸtothatG3588

ἐκπορευόμενονekporeuomenongoing forthG1607

ἐκekout ofG1537

τοῦtoutheG3588

στόματος,stomatosmouth,G4750

τοῦτοtoutothisG3778

κοινοῖkoinoidefilesG2840

τὸνtontheG3588

ἄνθρωπον.¶anthrōponman.G444

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 15:11

Mark 7:15
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Matthew 15:18-20
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
James 3:5-8
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Matthew 12:34-37
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
1 Timothy 4:4-5
For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Acts 10:14-15
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Luke 11:38-41
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Psalms 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Isaiah 59:13-15
In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
Romans 3:13-14
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Psalms 52:2-4
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

that which goeth.
Mr 7:15; Lu 11:38-41; Ac 10:14,15; 11:8,9; Ro 14:14,17,20
1Ti 4:4,5; Tit 1:15; Heb 13:9
but.
18-20; 12:34-37; Ps 10:7; 12:2; 52:2-4; 58:3,4; Isa 37:23
Isa 59:3-5,13-15; Jer 9:3-6; Ro 3:13,14; Jas 3:5-8; 2Pe 2:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 15:10
And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Matthew 15:11
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Matthew 15:12
Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

Read all of Matthew 15

Matthew 15:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	No lo que entra en la boca contamina al hombre; mas lo que sale de la boca, esto contamina al hombre.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	ce n’est pas ce qui entre dans la bouche qui souille l’homme; mais ce qui sort de la bouche, c’est là ce qui souille l’homme.
German Elberfelder 1871	Nicht was in den Mund eingeht, verunreinigt den Menschen, sondern was aus dem Munde ausgeht, das verunreinigt den Menschen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Non quod intrat in os, coinquinat hominem: sed quod procedit ex ore, hoc coinquinat hominem.