The word “Corban” appears in Mark 7:11, which says “But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)…” (ESV). This verse is part of a broader discussion Jesus was having with the Pharisees about traditions, commandments, and honoring parents.
In this context, “Corban” refers to something that has been dedicated or vowed to God as an offering. Under Jewish law at the time, a person could declare that their money or possessions were “Corban”, meaning they were set apart and dedicated to God. Once something was declared as Corban, it could no longer be used for any other normal purposes.
The issue Jesus highlights is that some Pharisees were using Corban as a way to avoid caring for their elderly parents. By declaring their money and possessions as Corban, devoted to God, they considered themselves excused from having to use those resources to assist their family. However, Jesus condemns this practice as a clever way of neglecting the commandment to “honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12).
Declaring something as Corban did not necessarily mean giving it to the temple or priests. The items often remained in the possession of the owner, just designated as dedicated to God. So Jesus accuses the Pharisees of using Corban as a loophole that violated the spirit of honoring parents. While the money was theoretically devoted to God, it was not actually being used for godly purposes. Instead, it was a hypocritical way for the Pharisees to claim piety while avoiding family duties.
The larger passage of Mark 7:1-13 contains Jesus’ dispute with the Pharisees over their strict manmade traditions. Jesus accused them of abandoning God’s commands in favor of their own rules and regulations. The mention of “Corban” in verse 11 is one example Jesus gives of the Pharisees elevating their elaborate traditions over the core principles of Scripture. By prioritizing Corban vows over caring for parents, they showed what they truly valued.
Some key points about Corban in Mark 7:11:
- Corban was a vow declaring money or possessions dedicated to God
- The Pharisees used it to avoid supporting their elderly parents
- Jesus condemned this practice as hypocrisy
- It showed how the Pharisees valued their own traditions over God’s commands
- The larger passage contrasts human religious rituals with true, heartfelt obedience
Other New Testament references to Corban:
The only other uses of “Corban” are in Matthew 27:6 and Mark 15:11, both in reference to the “thirty pieces of silver” Judas was given to betray Jesus:
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.” (Matthew 27:6-10 ESV)
The priests declare that the betrayal money paid to Judas is “corban” (given to God), so it would be unlawful to put it back into the temple treasury. This passing reference simply uses the term corban in the generic sense of something devoted to God and prohibited from normal use.
The only Old Testament mention of corban is in Leviticus 1-7, where it refers to sacrifices and offerings made by God’s people. The specific regulations pointed forward to the atoning sacrifice of Christ.
So in summary, “corban” was a vow to dedicate goods to God’s service. The Pharisees wrongly used it to avoid caring for parents, and Judas’ silver was considered corban because it was blood money. But Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial meaning behind corban by giving His life for our sins once for all.
Now for some background on the origin and evolving usage of “corban” in Jewish tradition:
The word “corban” comes from the Hebrew “qorban”, meaning an “offering” or “sacrifice”. It was derived from the root verb meaning “to come near, approach”. The idea was drawing near to God by making an offering.
In the Old Testament, “corban” referred generally to the sacrifices and offerings brought by worshipers to the tabernacle or temple. The first seven chapters of Leviticus give detailed regulations for five main types of offerings:
- Burnt offerings
- Grain offerings
- Peace offerings
- Sin offerings
- Guilt offerings
Each offering represented an aspect of devotion and gratitude towards God. They were voluntary expressions given out of a desire to draw near to the Lord.
By Jesus’ day, the meaning of “corban” had expanded beyond just sacrificial offerings. The term was applied to any money or possession dedicated to God for sacred use. The Mishnah tractate Arakhin addresses different types of corban vows:
- Valuing a person – dedicating one’s own estimated value to God
- Valuing property – dedicating the estimated value of one’s possessions
- Dedication of property – devoting a specific property to God
So corban grew to encompass all voluntary vows to give money or property over to God. The regulations tried to prevent rash or unconsidered vows. But as Jesus noted, the system was abused. With no actual transfer of goods taking place, religious leaders took advantage of corban vows to avoid obligations.
The modern Judaism term for a religious or charitable donation is “tzedakah”, echoing the ancient concept of “drawing near” to God through generous giving. So while “corban” faded from use, its original meaning remained relevant.
In summary, the history of corban is:
- Old Testament – sacrifices and offerings
- New Testament era – vow to dedicate valuables to God
- Mishnah/Talmud – expanded regulations for corban vows
- Modern – “tzedakah” retains the sense of charitable giving
So when Jesus criticized the Pharisees’ misuse of corban vows in Mark 7, He was invoking a long Jewish tradition of gifts and offerings to God. His ultimate fulfillment was in sacrificing Himself for the sins of the world. As Hebrews 9:11-14 declares, Christ gave “his own blood” to cleanse our consciences and make us able to serve God rightly.
In conclusion, the meaning of “corban” in Mark 7:11 centers around hypocrisy and misplaced priorities. On the surface, the Pharisees’ corban vows showed utmost piety. But in reality, they were a clever excuse to avoid caring for parents in need. Jesus condemned this because it went against the heart of God’s law. His sacrifice as the ultimate corban offering opened the way for relationship with God, transforming us from the inside out to live in wholehearted love and obedience.