The Pharisees ask why Jesus's students do not fast.
Mark 2:21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
Mark 2:21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
No one sews a patch of unfinished rag onto an old cloak: otherwise, it lifts up the filler from it, the new part of the old, and worse a tear becomes.
This verse seems a hybrid of Matthew and Luke versions, which makes it seem later rather than earlier than they are. This is the opposite of what today's academics claim. The assumption is that writing naturally grows over time. However, in an era when copy text was expensive, there were good incentives to shorten it.
This verse also seems oddly out of context, following a question about Jesus's followers' fasting, but this is evidence of the fact that a lot of context for Jesus's conversations is missing in the Gospels. However, this verse is connected to a wedding feast because people were expected to wear their best clothing to these celebrations. There are also a number of double meanings in this verse’s words that connect to the previous verse.
We can connect this verse to the previous context by thinking about the law. The "old" and "new/unshrunk" refers to the difference between Judean tradition and Jesus's teaching. The word translated as "new”, however, is somewhat self-deprecating with the sense of unfinished. Jesus is saying that he is not trying to patch the old traditions because they will not stick, making the divisions between his teaching and tradition worse. He explains how to resolve this in the next verse.
One key word here is translated "new”, but it is a word that applies to cloth meaning "not filled out”. The word translated as "piece that filled it up" is the a noun form of the verb that Jesus uses in describing his roll of "filling out" the law. The word translated as "rent" means a split between groups. It is the source of our word "schism”. While this verse seems unrelated to the previous two (Mark 2:19, Mark 2:20) about the groom being taken away, there are clear connections in Jewish tradition about the clothing worn at weddings and the wine of the following verse.
There are some differences that cannot be patched up.
- OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "also" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "new" should be something more like "raw”.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "cloth" is not common word usually translated as "cloth”.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "piece" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW --Confusing Word -- The "through" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "him" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "old" is not the object of the preposition but the genitive modifying "old”.
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "made" should be something more like "becomes”.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "cloth" is not common word usually translated as "cloth."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "piece" doesn't exist in the source.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "that" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "piece" should be something more like "filler."
- WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "pull away" should be something more like "lift up."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "him" is not shown in the English translation.
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "old" is not the object of the preposition but the genitive modifying "old."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "making" should be something more like "becomes."
- WF -- Wrong Form - The "making" is not a participle but an active verb, "becomes."
- IW - Inserted Word -- The word "the" doesn't exist in the source.
No man -- The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one”, "nothing" and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
also -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "also" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.
seweth - The word translated as "seweth" means "to sew”. It is different than the verb in the similar verses in Luke and Matthew, which means "toss on".
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
piece - The Greek word translated as "piece" means "that which is thrown over”. It is from the same root word as the word above and means "something thrown over" or "tossed on”. It has a number of meanings including "covering”, "tapestry" and " bandage”. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
new - (WW) The word translated as "new" means "unfinished" or "unprocessed". It is not "new" necessarily in the same sense as we use the word for store purchased goods to means "unused". "Finished" means having the edges sewn up so that the millwork didn't come apart. If the cloth is not finished, it will come apart on its own. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. A different word is translated as "new" in the Luke version (Luke 5:36) and in the next verse, Matthew 9:17 when applied to wine.
cloth - (CW) The word translated as "cloth" really means a "rag" or "tatter”. This is a negative description of the patch. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
on -- The word translated as "on" means "on”, "over”, "upon”, "against”, "before”, "after”, "during”, "by", "in the case of”.
an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
old - The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete”. Because the point here is that we want to preserve the coat or cloak, it should be translated in the positive sense. "Old" means respected and prized not worn out. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
garment, - The word translated as "garment" means an outer garment ("a cloak") like we would use a coat or jacket today. The style and quality of this garment were how people judged social affiliation and status.This specific garment signaled religious affiliation.
else -- This is from three Greek words that mean literally "if however not”.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one". The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the". See this article for more.
new -- The word translated as "new" means "new" in the sense of "newly made" and "fresh”.
piece -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "piece " in the Greek source.
that -- The word translated as "that" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one”. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this”, "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the”. See this article for more.
filled it up -- "Filled it up" is a noun that captures various ideas of filling and completing, but here, we might simply say "the filler”. It is not a verb but a noun.
taketh away - (CW) "Takes away" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up", "elevate”, "to bear”, "to carry off”, "to take and apply to any use”, "lifted" in the sense of "removed" and "to cause to cease”. Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man”, which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting". "Taketh" is not the precise meaning of the word.
from --- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from”. It is not the word form usually translated as "of”.
missing "him" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This form is also used as the object of a preposition. A genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one”. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that”, "these”, "those") than the English "the”. See this article for more.
old, - (WF) The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete”. Because the point here is that we want to preserve the coat or cloak, it should be translated in the positive sense. "Old" means respected and prized not worn out. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. The form is not the object of a preposition, but a genitive modifying "the new”. The sense is "the new part of the old”.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and”, but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also”. After words implying sameness "as”.
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
rent - The word translated as "rent" means an "opening”, "division" or a "tear”. but it is also a metaphor about a division of opinion. This word is the source of our word "schism”. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. This noun is important symbolically because it also refers to divided opinions, that is, the split between the "new" and the "old" symbolized by the garments, representing different schools of thought. The verb form of this word is used in Luke 5:36. -
is -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English. However, the verb form could also be the middle voice which means that the division makes itself worse.
made - (WW) The word translated as "made" means "to become”, that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being", which is existence in the current state. This should be "becomes”.
worse. - The terms translated as "worse" means various forms of inferiority and degradation. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
No man -- The Greek adjective translated as "no man" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative pronouns. It is used by Jesus more like a negative pronoun than an adjective. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.
sews - The word translated as "seweth" means "to sew." It is different than the verb in the similar verses in Luke and Matthew, which means "toss on".
a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
patch - The Greek word translated as "patch" means "that which is thrown over." It is from the same root word as the word above and means "something thrown over" or "tossed on." It has a number of meanings including "covering," "tapestry," and " bandage." This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
of -- This word "of" comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is the "of" of possession.
unshrunk -- The word translated as "unshrunk" means "unfinished" or "unprocessed." It is not "new" necessarily in the same sense as we use the word for store purchased goods to means "unused." "Finished" means having the edges sewn up to that the millwork didn't come apart. If the cloth is not finished, it will come apart on its own. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. A different word is translated as "new" in the Luke version (Luke 5:36) and in the next verse, Matthew 9:17 when applied to wine.
cloth - (CW) The word translated as "cloth" really means a "rag" or "tatter." This is a negative description of the patch. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
on -- The word translated as "on" means "on," "over," "upon," "against," "before," "after," "during," "by" "in the case of."
an -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.
old - The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete." Because the point here is that we want to preserve the coat or cloak, it should be translated in the positive sense. "Old" means respected and prized not worn out. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
garment, - The word translated as "garment" means an outer garment ("a cloak") like we would use a coat or jacket today. The style and quality of this garment were how people judged social affiliation and status.This specific garment signaled religious affiliation.
Otherwise-- This is from three Greek words that mean literally "if however not."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
new -- The word translated as "new" means "new" in the sense of "newly made" and "fresh."
missing "that" -- (MW) The untranslated word "that" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
piece -- (WW) "Piece" is a noun that captures various ideas of filling and completing, but here, we might simply say "the filler." It is not the word that means "piece."
will -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.
pull away - (WW) "Pull away" is one of Christ's favorite "multiple meaning" words. It is a verb that means "to raise up," "elevate," "to bear," "to carry off," "to take and apply to any use," "lifted" in the sense of "removed," and "to cause to cease." Jesus uses this verb to refer to what will happen to "the son of man," which can apply either to his being raised from the dead or lifted up on the cross. The verb also came to mean "remove" in the same way we describe stealing as "shoplifting." The word does not means "pull."
from --- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from." It is not the word form usually translated as "of."
missing "him" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This form is also used as the object of a preposition. A genitive object means a movement away from something or a position away from something else.
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article; without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
old, - (WF) The word translated as "old" means old in years both in a good sense and a bad one. In a good sense, it means "venerable" and in a bad sense, "obsolete." Because the point here is that we want to preserve the coat or cloak, it should be translated in the positive sense. "Old" means respected and prized not worn out. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. The form is not the object of a preposition, but a genitive modifying "the new." The sense is "the new part of the old."
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."
making - (WW, WF) The word translated as "made" means "to become," that is, to enter into a new state. In Greek, especially as used by Jesus, it is the opposite of "being," which is existence in the current state. This should be "becomes." This is not a participle, "making" but an active verb, "becomes."
the -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "the" in the Greek source.
tear - The word translated as "tear" means an "opening," "division," or a "tear." but it is also a metaphor about a division of opinion. This word is the source of our word "schism." This is an uncommon word for Christ to use. This noun is important metaphorically because it also refers to divided opinions, that is, the split between the "new" and the "old" symbolized by the garments, representing different schools of thought. The verb form of this word is used in Luke 5:36. -
worse. - The terms translated as "worse" means various forms of inferiority and degradation. This is an uncommon word for Christ to use.
οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom ) "No man” is oudeis which means "no one", "not one”, "nothing”, "naught”, "good for naught" and "no matter”.
ἐπίβλημα [3 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc ) "A piece" is epiblema, which means "that which is thrown over”, "covering”, "tapestry”, "hangings”, "that which is put on”, "piece of embroidery” and "outer bandage”.
ῥάκους [2 verses](noun sg neut gen) "Cloth" is rhakos, which means “ragged, tattered garment”, "rags”, "tatters”, "strip of cloth”, "strip of flesh”, "rents in the face", "wrinkles” and is a metaphor for "rag" and "remnant”.
ἀγνάφου [2 verses](adj sg neut gen) "New" is from agnaphos, which means "uncarded”, "unmilled”, "unfulled”, "undressed” and "unprocessed”.
ἐπιράπτει [1 verse](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Seweth" is from epirapto, which means to "stitch" and "sew”.
ἐπὶ (prep) "Unto" is from epi which means "on”, "upon”, "at”, "by”, "before”, "across" and "against”.
ἱμάτιον [10 verses](noun sg neut acc diminutive) "Garment" is from himation, which was an oblong piece of cloth worn as an outer garment. The term generally means "clothes" and "cloth”.
παλαιόν: [8 verses](adj sg neut acc) "Old" is from palaios, which means "old in years”, "ancient" (in a good sense), "venerable”, "held in esteem" (in a bad way), "antiquated”, "obsolete”, and "in an old way”.
εἰ [90 verses](conj) "Else" is ei (with δὲ μή), The construction εἰ δὲ μή means "otherwise”. This is the particle used to express conditions "if" (implying nothing about its fulfillment) or indirect questions, "whether”. It also means "if ever”, "in case” and "whenever". In citing a fact, it can mean "as sure as" or "since”. It is combined with various conjunctions to create derivative conditions. When appearing as εἰ δὲ (literally, "if however") the sense is "if this...then that”. The construction εἰ οὖν has the sense of "if so”. However, it is also used to express a wish. After verbs of wonder, delight, indignation, disappointment, contentment, and similar emotions, the sense is "that" (hoti) with the indicative (not subjunctive).
δὲ [446 verses](conj) "Else" is de (with εἰ ..μή ).which means "but" and "on the other hand”. It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of indirect cause ("so"). In an "if" (εἰ ) clause or temporal "when" (ὅταν) clause the sense is "if/when... then”. In a series begun by men, it means "on the other hand”. In a series begun by men, its means "on the other hand”.
μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Else" is me (with εἰ δὲ), which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. With pres. or aor. subj. used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that”. Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions.
αἴρει [56 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Taketh away" is airo, which means "to lift up”, "to raise”, "to raise up”, "to exalt”, "to lift and take away” and "to remove”. In some forms, it is the same as apaomai, which means to "pray to” or "pray for”.
τὸ [821 verses](article sg neut nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πλήρωμα [3 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "That which is put in to fill up" is pleroma, which means "that which fills”, "fullness”, "filler”, "reserves”, "mass”, "complex”, "filling up”, "completing” and "fulfillment”.
ἀπ᾽ [190 verses](prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done. Usually takes the genitive object.
αὐτοῦ [253 verses](adj sg masc gen) Untranslated is autos, which is the adjective used as third-person pronouns. The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. It also means "one's true self", that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord”.
τὸ [821 verses](article sg masc nom/acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
καινὸν , [9 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc)"New" is kainos, which means "new”, "fresh”, "newly made”, "newly invented” and "novel”.
τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc/neut gen) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
παλαιοῦ, [8 verses](adj sg masc/neut gen) "Old" is from palaios, which means "old in years”, "ancient” (in a good sense), "venerable”, "held in esteem”. (in a bad way) "antiquated”, "obsolete" and "in an old way".
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and” or "also”. After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also”. Also used to give emphasis, "even”, "also" and "just”.
χεῖρον [4 verses](adj sg neut nom/acc comp) "Worse" is cheiron, which means (of persons) "meaner", "inferior” (in moral sense), "worse than others”, "worse” (in quality), "inferior” and, as a noun, "inferiority”.
σχίσμα [2 verses](noun sg neut nom/acc) "Rent" is schisma, which means "cleft”, "division”, "division of opinion", "dissension”, "the vulva” and "furrow” (ploughings).
γίνεται. (3rd sg pres ind mp) "Is made" is from ginomai, which means "to become”, "to come into being”, "to happen” and "to be produced”. It means changing into a new state of being. It is the complementary opposite of the verb "to be" (eimi)which indicates existence in the same state.
"How can you call yourself a wedding party? Dressed as you are?" the Pharisee challenged. "Some of your cloaks need patching."
"No one a patch of rags unmilled sews onto a cloak, old," Jesus responded. "if however not, it takes that which fills up from of it, the new kind of the old and worse division becomes.