Matthew 15:2

Matthew 15:2

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

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

  

b. YLT: 'Wherefore do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they do not wash their hands when they may eat bread.'

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Why do Your disciples transgress and violate the rules handed down by the elders of the past? For they do not practice [ceremonially] washing their hands before they eat.

1. “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders…”

a. Why [Strong: 1302 diatí, dee-at-ee'; from G1223 and G5101; through what cause ?, i.e. why?:—wherefore, why.]

b. [do] thy [Strong: 4675 soû, soo; genitive case of G4771; of thee, thy:—X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.]

c. disciples [Strong: 3101  mathētḗs, math-ay-tes'; from G3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:—disciple.]

d. transgress [Strong: 3845 parabaínō, par-ab-ah'-ee-no; from G3844 and the base of G939; to go contrary to, i.e. violate a command:—(by) transgress(-ion).]

e. the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [Tnv] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

  

f. tradition [Strong: 3862 parádosis, par-ad'-os-is; from G3860; transmission, i.e. (concretely) a precept; specially, the Jewish traditionary law:—ordinance, tradition.]

g. [of] the [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [Ton] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

 

h. elders [Strong: 4245 presbýteros, pres-boo'-ter-os; comparative of πρέσβυς présbys (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter":—elder(-est), old.]

2.  “...for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.”

a. for [Strong: 1063 gár, gar; a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. [they] wash [Strong: 3538 níptō, nip'-to; to cleanse (especially the hands or the feet or the face); ceremonially, to perform ablution:—wash.]

c. not [Strong: 3756 ou, oo; a primary word; the absolute negative (compare G3361) adverb; no or not:—+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

d. their [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. hands [Strong: 5495 cheír, khire; perhaps from the base of G5494 in the sense of its congener the base of G5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument):—hand.]

  

f. when [Strong: 3752 hótan, hot'-an; from G3753 and G302; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as:—as long (soon) as, that, + till, when(-soever), while.]

g. [they] eat [Strong: 2068 esthíō, es-thee'-o; strengthened for a primary ἔδω édō (to eat); used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by G5315; to eat (usually literal):—devour, eat, live.]

h. bread [Strong: 740 ártos, ar'-tos; from G142; bread (as raised) or a loaf:—(shew-)bread, loaf.]

1). In these Scriptures the scribes and Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of sin because they violate the tradition of the elders.