Mark 7:16 is it scripture or not?

Mark 7:16 is it scripture or not?

Mark 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.KJV 

This verse, while it appears in the KJV is not found in many modern versions of the Bible such as the NIV, ESV and NASB. 

These versions go from Mark 7:15 to Mark 7:17. Some versions will give a footnote with details about why the verse is not included.

The ESV for instance says some manuscripts add verse 16 

“Some manuscripts add verse 16: If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear”
ESV footnote Mark 7 footnote 5


The NIV has a similar footnote indicating that some manuscripts add words at this point of the text. 

Some manuscripts include here the words of 4:23.


These footnotes are misleading to say the least. Some manuscripts…how about nearly 99% of all Greek manuscripts include this verse. This is not some manuscripts, this is the vast majority of manuscripts, including Alexandrinus and Washingtonianus. It is also found in codex D. 

The manuscripts that do not include the verse are, Vaticanus, Sinaticus, L, Delta, 0274, 28 and 2427.  (Codex Delta has been corrected by a later scribe and now includes the verse) 

This is certainly a very good example of the Byzantine text vs the Alexandrian text type. Alexandrinus, although predominately Alexandrian manuscript, is Byzantine in the Gospels. The Western text also supports its inclusion. 


THe NRSV says other ancient authorities add these words in verse 16 

Other ancient authorities add 7.16: “If you have ears to hear, then hear”

The footnote does not tell us what Ancient authorities add this verse. However, it is included in the Syriac, the Old Latin, the Vulgate, Armenian Slavonic, Ethiopian and the Gothic versions so it has a wide range of transmission lines. 


Thus we have the majority of all manuscripts that include the verse, we have early manuscript attestation, we have early Alexandrian manuscript attestation and we have early translational lines that include the verse. It is almost certainly on the authority given to Codecies Vaticanus and Sinaticus that this verse is omitted, which goes against the evidence for this verse. 

In total there are 1628 Manuscripts in support of the inclusion of this verse and 18 against it.

In an article found on Carn.Org, it is argued that the words as found in Mark are the same as found in other verses such as Matthew 11:15, Luke 8:8 and Luke 14:35 


The phrase “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” is also found in Matthew 11:15, Luke 8:8, and Luke 14:35.
Carm.org 
https://carm.org/king-james-onlyism/was-mark-716-removed-from-modern-bibles/

This is actually incorrect. The Greek of Mark &;16 is not the same as the 3 verses cited by Carm. 



Mark 7:16 Εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν, ἀκουέτω

Matthew 11:15 Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω. NA/UBS 

Luke 8:8 Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.

Luke 14:35 Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω. 

Mark uses these words in chapter 4 

Mark 4:9 Ὃ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω

Thus if someone was to add the verse in Mark7:16 then it is very unlikely that they would have used the words as we find in Mark 7:16, it would have been far more likely that they would have simply copied the words as already used by Mark in 4:9 and as found in Matthew and Luke. 



Carm further states that a similar phrase is found in other verses. 

One also finds the very similar phrase, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,” in Matthew 13:9 and 43.

However,when we look at these verses the Greek is actually similar to the previous 3 verses as cited by Carm and not the words as in Mark. 


Matthew 13:9 Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.

Matthew 13:43 Ὁ ἔχων ὦτα ἀκουέτω.

These words have not been inserted into Mark using the phrase as found in Matthew and Luke. 

It is also worth noting that in the parallel passage recorded by Matthew, Matthew does not use the words, thus any argument for a gospel harmonisation cannot be presented. 

There is a postulation that this was added through marginal notes. 

The context of certain early Christian debates may have led a scribe living in those times to note these words of Jesus in the margin next to Mark 7:15. Mark 7:1-23 tells the story of a group of Pharisees challenging Jesus because his disciples don’t go through ritual washings before they eat. Such was not commanded in the Law, but had become a tradition. Jesus sternly rebukes them and then declares:
Carm.org

However, there is no evidence for this. We see no manuscript evidence of this being added to the margin and then ultimately being included in the text. 

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