Bible/Matthew/12

Matthew 12:2

12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

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But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day.

12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

What does Matthew 12:2 mean?

Matthew 12:2 is a verse in the book of Matthew, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include δέ (de), Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaios), οἶδα οιδα ὁράω (eido). It connects to 16 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Butδέde/deh/G1161a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
when
the
PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios/far-is-ah'-yos/G5330of Hebrew origin (compare 6567); a separatist, i.e. exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary:--Pharisee.
sawοἶδα οιδα ὁράωeidoG1492a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot. Compare 3700.
it,
they
saidλέγωepo/ep'-o/G2036a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from 2046, 4483, and 5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare 3004.
unto
him,αὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.
Behold,ἰδούidou/id-oo'/G2400second person singular imperative middle voice of 1492; used as imperative lo!; --behold, lo, see.
thyσύsou/soo/G4675genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.
disciplesμαθητήςmathetes/math-ay-tes'/G3101from 3129; a learner, i.e. pupil:--disciple.
doποιέωpoieo/poy-eh'-o/G4160apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
that
whichὅς ἥ ὅhosG3739he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also 3757.
isἔξεστι ἔξεστιν ἔξειμιexesti/ex'-es-tee/G1832third person singular present indicative of a compound of 1537 and 1510; so also exon ex-on' neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of 1510 expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public):--be lawful, let, X may(-est).
notοὐouG3756ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
lawfulἔξεστι ἔξεστιν ἔξειμιexesti/ex'-es-tee/G1832third person singular present indicative of a compound of 1537 and 1510; so also exon ex-on' neuter present participle of the same (with or without some form of 1510 expressed); impersonally, it is right (through the figurative idea of being out in public):--be lawful, let, X may(-est).
to
doποιέωpoieo/poy-eh'-o/G4160apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.
uponἐνen/en/G1722a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
the
sabbath
day.σάββατονsabbaton/sab'-bat-on/G4521of Hebrew origin (7676); the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications:--sabbath (day), week.

Commentary on Matthew 12:2

HENRY_FULL · Matthew 12:2
eference >ver. 1-13 . II. The prudence, humility, and self-denial of our Lord Jesus in working his miracles, ver. 14-21 . III. Christ's answer to the blasphemous cavils and calumnies of the scribes and Pharisees, who imputed his casting out devils to a compact with the devil, ver. 22-37 . IV. Christ's reply to a tempting demand of the scribes and Pharisees, challenging him to show them a sign from heaven, ver. 38-45 . V. Christ's judgment about his kindred and relations, ver. 46-50 . Christ Vindicates His Disciples. 1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples d

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

Exodus 23:12

Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Exodus 31:15

Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. holy: Heb. holiness

Exodus 35:2

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. an: Heb. holiness

Numbers 15:32

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.

Isaiah 58:13

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

Matthew 12:10

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Mark 3:2

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.

Luke 6:6

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

Luke 13:10

And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Luke 23:56

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

John 5:9

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

John 5:16

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

John 5:17

But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

John 7:21

Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.

John 9:14

And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

Topics

EcclesiasticismSabbathTechnicalities, LegalTradition

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Matthew 12:2.

Matthew 12:38

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Matthew 9:2

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Luke 16:1

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Luke 5:30

But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Matthew 1:20

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. conceived: Gr. begotten

Matthew 11:10

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 11:8

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Matthew 12:47

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 12:2 say?

Matthew 12:2 (King James Version) reads: "But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day."

Is Matthew 12:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Matthew 12:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Matthew.

Reflect

As you read Matthew 12:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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