1And it happened, when he entered the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, that they were closely watching him with hostile intent. [14:2] And behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him. [14:3] And Jesus answered and said to the Torah-lawyers and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" [14:4] But they fell silent. And having taken firm hold of him, he healed him and released him. [14:5] Then he said to them, "Which of you, whose son or ox falls into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" [14:6] And they were not able to give a reply to these things.
LUK 14:1-6
Jesus Heals a Man with Dropsy
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Jewish society, the Sabbath was a day of strict observance, governed by detailed halakhic interpretations of the Torah. The Pharisees, as guardians of these traditions, scrutinized actions to ensure compliance with their understanding of Sabbath law. Dropsy, a condition involving severe swelling, was often seen as a visible sign of divine disfavor or impurity. The setting—a meal in the home of a Pharisee ruler—was a highly honor-bound context, where social status and religious authority were on display. Jesus’ question, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” directly challenged the Pharisees’ legalistic framework. Their silence reflects their inability to reconcile their interpretation of the law with the immediate human need before them. By healing the man, Jesus demonstrated that compassion and restoration align with the Sabbath’s purpose, invoking the common-sense principle of rescuing an animal or child from harm, which even the Pharisees would accept.
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How other translations render this
LUK 14:1
- KJV
- And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
- BSB
- One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.
- Koinōnos
- And it happened, when he entered the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on the Sabbath to eat bread, that they were closely watching him with hostile intent.
LUK 14:2
- KJV
- And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
- BSB
- Right there before Him was a man with dropsy.
- Koinōnos
- And behold, a certain man who had dropsy was in front of him.
LUK 14:3
- KJV
- And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
- BSB
- So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus answered and said to the Torah-lawyers and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?
LUK 14:4
- KJV
- And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
- BSB
- But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way.
- Koinōnos
- But they fell silent. And having taken firm hold of him, he healed him and released him.
LUK 14:5
- KJV
- And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
- BSB
- And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”
- Koinōnos
- Then he said to them, "Which of you, whose son or ox falls into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?
LUK 14:6
- KJV
- And they could not answer him again to these things.
- BSB
- And they were unable to answer these questions.
- Koinōnos
- And they were not able to give a reply to these things.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.1.2
›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.1.2
“The Jews had for a great while had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves; the sect of the Essens, and the sect of the Sadducees, and the third sort of opinions was that of those called Pharisees”
Cited to ground: The Pharisees, as guardians of these traditions, scrutinized actions to ensure compliance with their understanding of Sabbath law.
Translator's notes
LUK 14:1
- watching:The word translated 'watching' implies a close, careful, and often hostile observation, suggesting they were looking for an opportunity to find fault.
LUK 14:3
- lawyers:The term translated 'lawyers' refers to experts in the Mosaic Law, often scribes, who interpreted and taught it, not necessarily legal professionals in a modern sense.
- Sabbath:The word translated 'Sabbath' here is actually the verb 'to heal' or 'to serve.' The question is whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath.
LUK 14:4
- having taken hold [of him]:The phrase 'having taken hold [of him]' suggests a firm, deliberate grasp, indicating Jesus's direct and intentional action in healing the man.