15:2a–b

Before you translate 15:2, think about the most natural order for 2a and 2b. In some languages, it may be more natural to put 2b first. For example:

2bYour disciples do not wash their hands before they eat! 2aWhy do they break the tradition of the elders ⌊like that⌋?

15:2a

Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a rebuke. The Pharisees and scribes who came to Jesus rebuked/scolded him because they believed that his disciples broke the tradition of the elders.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders?
-or-
Your disciples break the tradition of the elders. Why?

• As a statement. For example:

Your disciples break the tradition of the elders!
-or-
Your disciples should not break the tradition of the elders!

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

break: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as break also means “disobey.” Use a verb in your language that refers to not following a tradition or custom.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

do not keep/follow
-or-
do not obey

the tradition of the elders: This phrase refers to the oral laws/rules that Jewish elders had added to the written law of Moses. These oral laws had been added and taught over a period of centuries. The Pharisees believed that it was as important to keep these oral laws as it was to keep the written law of Moses.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

the traditions of our ancestors (God’s Word)
-or-
the laws/rules that come from our forefathers
-or-
the customs/teachings of our fathers
-or-
what our ancestors taught us to do (Contemporary English Version)

the elders: Here the word elders refers to Jewish religious leaders of earlier generations. These religious leaders passed down their teachings to the Jews of later generations.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

ancestors (Good News Translation)
-or-
forefathers

15:2b

The Greek begins this clause with a conjunction that is often translated as “For.” It indicates that 15:2b is the reason for the question in 15:2a.

Here is another way to introduce this reason:

⌊We ask this⌋ because

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave this conjunction untranslated. This is what the Berean Standard Bible and New International Version do.

They do not wash their hands before they eat: This sentence means that the disciples did not follow the elders’ rules. They did not wash/rinse their hands before they ate in the way that their ancestors said that they should. One of the teachings of the elders was to ceremonially rinse their hands before meals. They poured water over each hand in a certain way. Then they considered their hands to be ceremonially clean. That way, the food would remain ceremonially clean when they touched it and ate it.

The law of Moses did not require people to wash their hands in this way. This was one of the traditions that the elders added to the law.

Here are some other ways to translate this sentence:

They don’t wash their hands in the proper way before they eat! (Good News Translation)

-or-

Before they eat, they do not ⌊follow the correct way to⌋ wash their hands.

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