MAT 12:9-14

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

9And departing from there, he went into their synagogue.

10And look — there was a man with a withered hand. And they questioned him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" — so that they might accuse him.

11He said to them: "What man is there among you who has one sheep and, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

12How much more valuable, then, is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

13Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, sound as the other.

14But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, plotting how they might destroy him.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish society, the Sabbath was a cornerstone of religious observance, governed by strict halakhic (legal) interpretations. Healing on the Sabbath was contentious, as it could be classified as 'work,' which was prohibited. The Pharisees, who were guardians of Torah observance, often scrutinized such actions to enforce communal purity and adherence to tradition. Jesus' healing of a man with a withered hand directly challenged these norms. His rhetorical question about rescuing a sheep from a pit (a common scenario in agrarian life) highlighted the hypocrisy of valuing animal welfare over human suffering. The term (well) underscores the ethical imperative to do good, even on the Sabbath. The Pharisees' (counsel) to accuse Jesus reveals their intent to protect their authority and communal boundaries. For the synagogue audience, this act would have been both provocative and revelatory, exposing the tension between rigid legalism and compassionate action.

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How other translations render this

MAT 12:9

KJV: And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
BSB: Moving on from there, Jesus entered their synagogue,
Koinōnos: And departing from there, he went into their synagogue.

MAT 12:10

KJV: 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.
BSB: and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
Koinōnos: And look — there was a man with a withered hand. And they questioned him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" — so that they might accuse him.

MAT 12:11

KJV: And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
BSB: He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?
Koinōnos: He said to them: "What man is there among you who has one sheep and, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

MAT 12:12

KJV: How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
BSB: How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Koinōnos: How much more valuable, then, is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

MAT 12:13

KJV: Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
BSB: Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored to full use, just like the other.
Koinōnos: Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored, sound as the other.

MAT 12:14

KJV: Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
BSB: But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Koinōnos: But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, plotting how they might destroy him.

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, who were guardians of Torah observance, often scrutinized such actions to enforce communal purity and adherence to tradition.

Translator's notes

MAT 12:10

a hand:The word translated 'a hand' here refers to a hand that was withered or dried up, implying a condition of atrophy or paralysis, rendering it useless.
it is lawful:The term translated 'it is lawful' refers to what is permissible according to religious law or custom, particularly in the context of the Sabbath regulations.

MAT 12:12

good:The word translated 'good' here carries the sense of something being morally right, honorable, and beneficial, not merely pleasant or agreeable.

MAT 12:14

a counsel:The word translated 'a counsel' can refer to a formal meeting or deliberation, often with a negative connotation of plotting or conspiracy, rather than just general advice.