Bible Strands
Mark 7:16
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
King James Version
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the gathered crowd immediately after declaring that moral defilement originates internally rather than from external sources. He issues this phrase as a closing directive before withdrawing into a house with His disciples.
The words — The Greek construction opens with Εἴ (Ei) meaning "if" and τις (tis) meaning "anyone," followed by ἔχει (echei) for "has" and ὦτα (ōta) for "ears." The final imperative ἀκουέτω (akouetō) literally commands "he should hear."
The thread — This formulaic call to spiritual attention recurs in the Synoptic tradition, notably in Matthew 11:15 and Matthew 13:9, and later in Revelation 2:7.
Why it lands — The text demands active auditory engagement with Jesus' teaching rather than passive reception. It requires the reader to treat the preceding instruction as urgent and personally applicable.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.