Matthew 15 · Verse 20

Matthew 15:20

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Matthew 15:20, King James Version

Matthew 15:20 in other translations

BSBThese are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”
WEBThese are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man.”
ASVthese are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.
YLTthese are the things defiling the man; but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.'
DARBYthese are the things which defile man; but the eating with unwashen hands does not defile man.
BBEThese are the things which make a man unclean; but to take food with unwashed hands does not make a man unclean.
WebsterThese are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

What does Matthew 15:20 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
20. These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man--Thus does our Lord sum up this whole searching discourse.

Mt 15:21-28. The Woman of Canaan and Her Daughter.

For the exposition, see on Mr 7:24-30.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 20. Mt 15:18

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 These - defile a man - Our Lord's argument is very plain. What goes into the mouth descends into the stomach and other intestines; - part is retained for the nourishment of the body, and part is ejected, as being improper to afford nourishment. Nothing of this kind defiles the soul, because it does not enter into it; but the evil principles that are in it, producing evil thoughts, murders, etc., these defile the soul, because they have their seat and operation in it.

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 15:20 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.

ταῦτάtautaTheseG3778
ἐστινestinareG1510
τὰtathoseG3588
κοινοῦνταkoinountadefilingG2840
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄνθρωπον·anthrōponman;G444
τὸtothat whichG3588
δὲdebutG1161
ἀνίπτοιςaniptoiswith unwashedG449
χερσὶνchersinhandsG5495
φαγεῖνphageinto eatG5315
οὐounotG3756
κοινοῖkoinoiit defilesG2840
τὸνtontheG3588
ἄνθρωπον.¶anthrōponman.G444

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

Cross references for Matthew 15:20

  • Mark 7:3-4

    For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

    Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

  • Luke 11:38-40

    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?

  • Ephesians 5:3-6

    But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

  • Revelation 21:8

    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

  • Matthew 15:2

    Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

    Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

  • Revelation 21:27

    And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

  • Matthew 23:25-26

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
which.
1Co 3:16,17; 6:9-11,18-20; Eph 5:3-6; Re 21:8,27
but.
2; 23:25,26; Mr 7:3,4; Lu 11:38-40

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

Context

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

  • Matthew 15:20

    These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

  • Matthew 15:21

    Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

Read all of Matthew 15

Matthew 15:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Estas cosas son las que contaminan al hombre: que comer con las manos por lavar no contamina al hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
ce sont ces choses qui souillent l’homme; mais de manger avec des mains non lavées ne souille pas l’homme.
German
Elberfelder 1871
diese Dinge sind es, die den Menschen verunreinigen, aber mit ungewaschenen Händen essen verunreinigt den Menschen nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
hæc sunt, quæ coinquinant hominem. Non lotis autem manibus manducare, non coinquinat hominem.