1It came to pass on a Sabbath that he was passing through the sown fields, and his disciples were plucking the heads of grain and eating, rubbing them with their hands. [6:2] But some of the Pharisees said to them: "Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths?" [6:3] And answering them, Jesus said: "Have you not even read this — what David did when he himself was hungry, and those being with him — [6:4] how he entered into the house of God and, having taken the loaves of the presentation, ate and gave to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?" [6:5] And he was saying to them: "Lord of the Sabbath is the Son of Man."
LUK 6:1-5
The Lord of the Sabbath
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish practice, the Sabbath was a cornerstone of communal and religious life, governed by detailed halakhic (legal) interpretations. The Pharisees, as guardians of Torah observance, scrutinized actions that might violate Sabbath rest, including harvesting, which plucking grain could resemble. Jesus and his disciples, walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, engage in an act that Pharisees interpret as work, thus breaking Sabbath law. Jesus responds by invoking David’s actions in 1 Samuel 21, where David ate the sacred showbread reserved for priests, an act justified by necessity. By referencing this, Jesus aligns himself with David’s authority and challenges the Pharisees’ interpretation of Sabbath law. The term 'Lord of the Sabbath' asserts Jesus’ authority over Sabbath observance, positioning him as one who interprets Torah with divine prerogative. This exchange reflects tensions between Jesus’ authority and Pharisaic tradition.
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How other translations render this
LUK 6:1
- KJV
- And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
- BSB
- One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.
- Koinōnos
- It came to pass on a Sabbath that he was passing through the sown fields, and his disciples were plucking the heads of grain and eating, rubbing them with their hands.
LUK 6:2
- KJV
- And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
- BSB
- But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
- Koinōnos
- But some of the Pharisees said to them: "Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbaths?
LUK 6:3
- KJV
- And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
- BSB
- Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
- Koinōnos
- And answering them, Jesus said: "Have you not even read this — what David did when he himself was hungry, and those being with him —
LUK 6:4
- KJV
- How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
- BSB
- He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”
- Koinōnos
- how he entered into the house of God and, having taken the loaves of the presentation, ate and gave to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?
LUK 6:5
- KJV
- And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
- BSB
- Then Jesus declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- Koinōnos
- And he was saying to them: "Lord of the Sabbath is the Son of Man.
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 Torah observance, scrutinized actions that might violate Sabbath rest
Translator's notes
LUK 6:1
- a Sabbath:The word translated 'Sabbath' refers to the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship commanded by God in the Old Testament, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
- second [after the] first:The phrase 'second [after the] first' is a technical term for a specific Sabbath, likely the first Sabbath after the second day of Passover, marking the beginning of the grain harvest.
- were plucking:The word translated 'were plucking' describes the action of picking grain by hand, rubbing it, and eating it, which was permitted for travelers but became controversial on the Sabbath.
LUK 6:4
- presentation:The word translated 'presentation' refers to the 'bread of the Presence' or 'showbread,' twelve loaves placed weekly before God in the Tabernacle/Temple as an offering.