en_tn_condensed/mrk/07/03.md

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General Information:

In verses 3 and 4, the author gives background information about the Pharisees' washing traditions in order to show why the Pharisees were bothered that Jesus's disciples did not wash their hands before eating. If you need to reorder the events in these verses, it may be helpful to use a verse bridge, as in the UDB. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-versebridge)

For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands carefully

The words "do not" and "unless" are a double negative. This can be stated in a positive way. Alternate translation: "For the Pharisees and all the Jews eat only after they wash their hands carefully" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)

unless they wash their hands carefully

This kind of hand washing was an important ceremonial or religious act, not just an act of making ones hands clean physically. The Jews washed their hands carefully to obey all religious traditions and rules about cleanness. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "unless they make their hands ceremonially clean" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)

elders

Jewish elders were leaders in their communities and were also judges for the people.