c. AD 350 — Gothic version. The verse was already present in a fourth-century translation.
Earliest surviving Greek support: Fifth century — Codices A, D, and W.
Mark 7:16
Ears to Hear
KJV Reading Defended
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Why the KJV Reading Is Retained
Modern editions often omit this saying in Mark 7 while retaining similar sayings elsewhere.
Disputed unit
Mark 7:16/2–12: presence of εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω.
Short omitted phraseMajority Greek supportPatristic supportLatin supportSyriac supportScant evidence against KJV
Evidence assessment
The hearing refrain is carried by Codex Bezae, Washingtonianus, the correction of Sangallensis, Koridethi, thirty further named Greek entries, lectionary 950 and the Byzantine reconstructed witness, with Latin, Old Syriac, Peshitta, Harklean, Christian Palestinian Aramaic, Ethiopic and Gothic support. Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Regius, the first hand of Sangallensis, 0274, 28, 1342 and 2786 omit it.
Primary support for the KJV reading
Byzantine reconstructed witness with broad versional support
King James Bible reading
Mark 7:16 in the King James Bible
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
Evidence sources
Where the evidence on this page comes from.
Sources used for the witnesses, readings, dates, and notes on this page. Complete citations appear in the References section at the end of the page.
Governing apparatus and count scope
The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.
- B. M. Metzger, The Early Versions of the New Testament
- Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 7:16/2–12; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier
- H. A. G. Houghton, The Latin New Testament
- INTF Kurzgefasste Liste / NTVMR manuscript metadata
- INTF Patristic Citations database
- Vetus Latina Gospel manuscript register (ITSEE, University of Birmingham)
Earliest KJV-supporting evidence
The earliest reviewed support at a glance.
Primary support for the KJV reading
Byzantine reconstructed witness with broad versional support
The sections below preserve each supporting, competing, and related record under its proper evidence type.
Majority Text standing
Presence of the hearing refrain
Mark 7:16 is the overwhelming numerical Majority Text reading in Greek.
Estimated Greek support: More than 1,500 Greek manuscripts
This is a conservative working estimate based on the published Majority or Byzantine designation and the approximate number of continuous-text manuscripts that preserve the book. Lacunae and collation scope make the exact denominator vary by verse.
Source scope and denominator
The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.
Greek support in the cited corpus
30 named Greek entries plus a bracketed apparatus group and the Byzantine reconstructed witness in the ECM Mark selected corpus
Greek competing evidence in the cited corpus
8 named Greek entries plus five lectionary portions
Lectionary evidence
No specific lectionary support listed.
Principal competing witnesses named in the snapshot
- Codex Sinaiticus (01)
- Codex Vaticanus (03)
- Codex Regius (019)
- Codex Sangallensis first hand (037*)
- Uncial 0274
Evidence represented on this page
Greek manuscripts
Represented
Ancient versions
Represented
Church fathers
Represented
Printed editions
No entry listed
Complete source-scoped roster
Complete roster within the stated source scope.
This roster preserves every named or grouped state recovered in the governing sources, including exact readings, competing readings, corrections, related forms, lacunae, versions, and aggregate traditions. When Maj or Byz appears on the KJV side, it marks the numerically dominant Greek transmission at that unit. The green Majority Text card above supplies the best available passage-specific estimate. The grouped siglum is then retained so it is not mistaken for one individual manuscript.
Apparatus and roster scope
The current digital ECM Mark apparatus, built on full transcriptions of 209 selected Greek manuscripts together with the reconstructed versional and patristic states. Counts below name the entries this apparatus displays.
- Greek support in cited scope
- 30 named Greek entries plus a bracketed apparatus group and the Byzantine reconstructed witness in the ECM Mark selected corpus
- Greek competing evidence in cited scope
- 8 named Greek entries plus five lectionary portions
- Evidence classification
- Byzantine reconstructed witness with broad versional support
Mark 7:16/2–12 — the hearing refrain
KJV/TR unit: εἴ τις ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω
Greek manuscripts
Supports the KJV/TR form05 032 037C 038 1 13 33 69 124r 205 209 346 427 543 565r 579 700 732r 788 792 826 828 892 983 1424 1582 1689 2193 2542 2886
Grouped evidence: Byz · [017r 043V 261r 273r 513r 1253r 1279r 1446r 1515r 1546r 1593r 2206r 2726r L211-1r L387-1 L770-1 L773-1]
Lectionaries
Supports the KJV/TR formL950-1
Versional states
Supports the KJV/TR formL:DIV S:VSPH CPA:C K:Smss>Bmss Ä Go
Greek manuscripts
Competing reading01 03 019 037* 0274 28 1342 2786
Lectionaries
Competing readingL211-2 L387-2 L770-2 L773-2 L950-2
Versional states
Competing readingK:SmssBmss
Patristic sigla on the omission line
Competing readingAdam AetAnt Ath Bas Chrys Did Epiph Eus GregNy IusMar Or
Non-extant at the unit
Non-directional evidenceP45 022 055 0131 0292 2517 L60 L547 L563 L2211
Church Fathers and literary witnesses
Precisely located citations and additional names reported by the controlling apparatus are kept separate. An apparatus-level attribution is not presented as an independently verified exact quotation.
Augustine
c. AD 400North Africa
Apparatus-level attribution
Supporting witnessCitation type: Patristic citation
The controlling apparatus reports Augustine for this reading, but the exact work and section are not identified in the current dossier.
Locator: Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF), Mark 7:16/2–12; exact work and section are not separately identified in the current dossier
Open sourceRoster distinctions
- Sangallensis is one codex in two states: 037* omits and 037C includes.
Evidence notes
Important distinctions in the evidence.
- Sangallensis is one codex in two states: 037* omits and 037C includes.
Evidence assessment
Why the KJV reading is retained
The hearing refrain is carried by Codex Bezae, Washingtonianus, the correction of Sangallensis, Koridethi, thirty further named Greek entries, lectionary 950 and the Byzantine reconstructed witness, with Latin, Old Syriac, Peshitta, Harklean, Christian Palestinian Aramaic, Ethiopic and Gothic support. Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Regius, the first hand of Sangallensis, 0274, 28, 1342 and 2786 omit it.
Primary support for the KJV reading
Byzantine reconstructed witness with broad versional support
Evidence represented on this page
Evidence types, without turning rows into votes.
GreekRepresented
LatinRepresented
Other versionsRepresented
FathersRepresented
Printed editionsNot listed
References
Editions and works cited.
Institut für Neutestamentliche Textforschung. New Testament Virtual Manuscript Room. Münster: University of Münster.
Aland, Barbara, et al., eds. Novum Testamentum Graece. 28th rev. ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2012.
Robinson, Maurice A., and William G. Pierpont. The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Textform 2018. Nürnberg: VTR Publications, 2018.
Tyndale House, Cambridge, ed. The Greek New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.
Digital Editio Critica Maior, Mark (INTF). Mark 7:16/2–12.
INTF Kurzgefasste Liste / NTVMR manuscript metadata. Physical dates for the named Greek manuscripts.
INTF Patristic Citations database
Vetus Latina Gospel manuscripts register (ITSEE, University of Birmingham). Identity and physical date of the named Old Latin manuscripts.