What Does Matthew 15:11 Mean in the King James?
Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word translated “defile” means to make common, placing the power to profane in what comes out of the mouth.
THE MEANING
What enters through your mouth does not defile you; what comes out does. Your words carry your inward condition into the open, where they can profane you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that what enters from outside makes you unclean while what you say is harmless.
THE ROOT
κοινοῖ
koinoi
GROWS FROM
κοιν-
koin-
Common or shared; the verb means to make common, and so to profane or defile.
“defileth” in this verse is koinoi. English “defile” can sound like surface contamination, but κοινοῖ carries the sense of making common. The verse locates that profaning force in what comes out of the mouth; the next verse identifies the heart as its source.
ALSO GROWS
koinos: Common, shared; also profane in some contexts.
κοινός
The adjective names the commonness that the verb brings about here.
koinōnia: Sharing in common.
κοινωνία
The same word family speaks of what is held in common; here, making common takes on the force of profaning.
THE PATTERN
What comes from within carries the inner source outward.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.THE THREAD
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.This verse uses the same Greek verb, κοινοῖ (koinoi), for “defile.” It opens the source behind the words of Matthew 15:11: what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart.
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