23And it happened that he was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and his disciples began to make their way plucking heads of grain. [2:24] And the Pharisees said to him, "Look — why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" [2:25] And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him — [2:26] how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and also gave it to those who were with him?" [2:27] And he said to them: "The Sabbath came into being for man, not man for the Sabbath. [2:28] So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
MRK 2:23-28
The Lord of the Sabbath
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish practice, Sabbath observance was a central marker of Jewish identity, governed by detailed halakhic interpretations. The Pharisees, as guardians of Torah observance, scrutinized actions that might violate Sabbath prohibitions, including harvesting, which was explicitly forbidden. Jesus’ disciples plucking grain heads would have been seen as a form of harvesting, thus triggering Pharisaic concern. Jesus responds by invoking David’s actions in 1 Samuel 21, where David ate the bread of the Presence , reserved for priests, during a time of need. This appeal to David’s authority reframes Sabbath law around human necessity and mercy, challenging the Pharisees’ strict legalism. The mention of Abiathar, the high priest , adds historical weight, though it introduces a chronological complexity (Abiathar’s father, Ahimelech, was the priest at the time). For Jesus’ audience, this narrative underscores his authority as 'Lord of the Sabbath,' positioning him above Pharisaic interpretations and aligning him with David’s royal and priestly legacy.
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How other translations render this
MRK 2:23
- KJV
- And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
- BSB
- One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain as they walked along.
- Koinōnos
- And it happened that he was passing through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and his disciples began to make their way plucking heads of grain.
MRK 2:24
- KJV
- And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
- BSB
- So the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
- Koinōnos
- And the Pharisees said to him, "Look — why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?
MRK 2:25
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
- BSB
- Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him —
MRK 2:26
- KJV
- How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
- BSB
- During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”
- Koinōnos
- how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and also gave it to those who were with him?
MRK 2:27
- KJV
- And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
- BSB
- Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them: "The Sabbath came into being for man, not man for the Sabbath.
MRK 2:28
- KJV
- Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
- BSB
- Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
- Koinōnos
- So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
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 prohibitions
Translator's notes
MRK 2:23
- to make:The word translated 'to make' here often implies an active, intentional creation or performance, not just a passive action. It suggests the disciples were deliberately doing something.
- plucking:The term 'plucking' specifically refers to the action of pulling off ears of grain by hand, a common practice for immediate consumption in the fields.
MRK 2:26
- the:The word translated 'high priest' refers to the chief religious official, the head of the priestly order, who held significant authority and performed crucial religious rites.
- of the:The phrase 'bread of the Presence' refers to the showbread, a specific set of loaves placed before God in the Tabernacle/Temple as an offering, symbolizing God's provision and presence.