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Contemporary English Version

Mark 3:4

Then he asked, "On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?" But no one said a word.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Capernaum;   Jesus, the Christ;   Miracles;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Legalism;   Miracle;   Synagogue;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Law, Ten Commandments, Torah;   Persecution in the Bible;   Sabbath;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Consciousness;   Disease;   Error;   Good ;   Liberty (2);   Lord's Supper. (I.);   Mental Characteristics;   Mission;   Nation (2);   Nationality;   Paradox;   Peace (2);   Physician (2);   Questions and Answers;   Sabbath ;   Salvation;   Soul;   Worldliness (2);   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Phar'isees,;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Good;   Lawful;   Mark, the Gospel According to;   Resurrection;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then he said to them, “Is it lawful
King James Version (1611)
And hee saith vnto them, Is it lawfull to doe good on the Sabbath dayes, or to doe euill? to saue life, or to kill? but they held their peace.
King James Version
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
English Standard Version
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
New Century Version
Then Jesus asked the people, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?" But they said nothing to answer him.
Amplified Bible
He asked them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
Legacy Standard Bible
And He *said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
Berean Standard Bible
And He asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?" But they were silent.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then to them he said, "What is permitted on Shabbat? Doing good or doing evil? Saving life or killing?" But they said nothing.
Darby Translation
And he says to them, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they were silent.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Jesus asked the people, "Which is the right thing to do on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil? Is it right to save a life or to destroy one?" The people said nothing to answer him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he saide to them, Is it lawfull to doe a good deede on the Sabbath day, or to doe euil? to saue the life, or to kil? But they held their peace.
George Lamsa Translation
Then he said to them also, Is it lawful to do good or evil on the sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it? But they were silent.
Good News Translation
Then he asked the people, "What does our Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To help or to harm? To save someone's life or to destroy it?" But they did not say a thing.
Lexham English Bible
And he said to them, "Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
Literal Translation
And He said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbaths, or to do evil? To save a soul, or to kill? But they were silent.
American Standard Version
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Bible in Basic English
And he said to them, Is it right to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? to give life or to put to death? But they said nothing.
Hebrew Names Version
He said to them, "Is it lawful on the day of Shabbat to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.
International Standard Version
Then he asked them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill it?" But they were silent.
Etheridge Translation
He said also to them, Is it lawful on the shabath to do good, or (that) which (is) evil ? to save life, or to destroy it ? But they were silent.
Murdock Translation
And he said also to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil? to give life to a person, or to destroy? But they were silent
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he saide vnto them: Is it lawful to do good on the Sabboth dayes, or to do euyl? to saue lyfe, or to kyll? But they helde their peace.
English Revised Version
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
World English Bible
He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he saith to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil? To save life or to kill?
Weymouth's New Testament
Then He asked them, "Are we allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? to save a life, or to destroy one?" They remained silent.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seith to hem, Is it leeueful to do wel in the sabatis, ether yuel? to make a soul saaf, ether to leese? And thei weren stille.
Update Bible Version
And he says to them, Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he saith to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? but they held their peace.
New English Translation
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?" But they were silent.
New King James Version
Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent.
New Living Translation
Then he turned to his critics and asked, "Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?" But they wouldn't answer him.
New Life Bible
Then Jesus said to the proud religious law-keepers, "Does the Law say to do good on the Day of Rest or to do bad, to save life or to kill?" But they said nothing.
New Revised Standard
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and saith unto them - Is it allowed, on the Sabbath, to do good, or to do evil? To, save, life, or, to slay? but they remained silent.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saith to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy? But they held their peace.
Revised Standard Version
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he sayd to them: whether is it laufull to do a good dede on ye Saboth dayes or an evyll? to save life or kyll? But they helde their peace.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to them, `Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? life to save, or to kill?' but they were silent.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he sayde vnto the: Is it laufull to do good on the Sabbath? Or is it laufull to do euell? to saue life, or to kyll? But they helde their tonge.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and he ask'd them, is it allowed to do good, or to do mischief on the sabbath-days? to save life, or to kill? but they were very silent.
THE MESSAGE
Then he spoke to the people: "What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?" No one said a word.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Then Jesus turned to all the scowling preachers and said, "Is it against the Law to do something good for someone who is in a bad way?" They sat there and didn't say a word.

Contextual Overview

1 The next time that Jesus went into the meeting place, a man with a crippled hand was there. 2 The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they kept watching to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus told the man to stand up where everyone could see him. 4 Then he asked, "On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?" But no one said a word. 5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so stubborn. Then he told the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did, and his bad hand was healed. 6 The Pharisees left. And right away they started making plans with Herod's followers to kill Jesus. 7 Jesus led his disciples down to the shore of the lake. Large crowds followed him from Galilee, Judea, 8 and Jerusalem. People came from Idumea, as well as other places east of the Jordan River. They also came from the region around the cities of Tyre and Sidon. All of these crowds came because they had heard what Jesus was doing. 9 He even had to tell his disciples to get a boat ready to keep him from being crushed by the crowds. 10 After Jesus had healed many people, the other sick people begged him to let them touch him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Is it: Mark 2:27, Mark 2:28, Hosea 6:6, Matthew 12:10-12, Luke 6:9, Luke 13:13-17, Luke 14:1-5

But: Mark 9:34

Reciprocal: Matthew 12:12 - it is Luke 14:3 - Is John 5:10 - it is not John 7:19 - Why Galatians 6:10 - do good

Cross-References

Genesis 3:13
The Lord God then asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The snake tricked me," she answered. "And I ate some of that fruit."
Deuteronomy 29:19
You may be an Israelite and know all about the Lord 's agreement with us, but he won't bless you if you rebel against him. You may think you can get away with it, but you will cause the rest of Israel to be punished along with you.
2 Kings 1:4
Tell him that because he has done this, he's on his deathbed! And Elijah did what he was told.
2 Kings 1:6
"A man met us along the road with a message for you from the Lord ," they answered. "The Lord wants to know why you sent us to ask Baalzebub about your injury and why you don't believe there's a God in Israel. The man also told us that the Lord says you're going to die."
2 Kings 1:16
When Elijah arrived, he told Ahaziah, "The Lord wants to know why you sent messengers to Ekron to ask Baalzebub about your injury. Don't you believe there's a God in Israel? Ahaziah, because you did that, the Lord says you will die."
2 Kings 8:10
"Tell him he will," Elisha said to Hazael. "But the Lord has already told me that Benhadad will definitely die."
Psalms 10:11
They say, "God can't see! He's got on a blindfold."
2 Corinthians 2:11
I have done this to keep Satan from getting the better of us. We all know what goes on in his mind.
2 Corinthians 11:3
But now I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way.
1 Timothy 2:14
and the man Adam wasn't the one who was fooled. It was the woman Eve who was completely fooled and sinned.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he saith unto them,.... Either to the whole multitude, to all the assembly in the synagogue; and so the Persic version renders it, "again he said to the multitude"; or rather, to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were watching him, and had put a question to him, which he answers by another:

is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill? The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, or "to destroy", as in Luke 6:9, To do evil, kill, or destroy, are not lawful at any time; and to do good, and to save life, must be right at all times: our Lord has a particular view to the Scribes and Pharisees, and the question is put home to their own consciences; whose hearts and thoughts, designs and views, were all open to Christ; and who were now watching to do evil to him, and even to destroy and take away his life: for the violation of the sabbath was death by the law, and this was what they sought to accuse him of: now he puts the question to them, and makes them judges which must appear most right and just in the sight of God and men, for him to heal this poor man of his withered hand, though on the sabbath day; which would be doing a good and beneficent action to him, whereby his life would be saved, and preserved with comfort and usefulness, and he would be in a capacity of getting his livelihood; or for them to cherish an evil intention against him, to seek to bring mischief on him; and not only destroy his character and usefulness as much as in them lay, but even take away his very life also: he leaves it with them to consider of which was most agreeable to the law of God, the nature of a sabbath, and the good of mankind;

but they held their peace; or "were silent", not being able to return an answer, but what must have been in his favour, and to their own confusion, and therefore chose to say nothing.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this explained in Matthew 12:9-13.

Mark 3:4

Or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? - It seems to have been a maxim with the Jews that not to do good when we have an opportunity is to do evil; not to save life is to kill or to be guilty of murder. If a man has an opportunity of saving a man’s life when he is in danger, and does not do it, he is evidently guilty of his death. On this principle our Saviour puts this question to the Jews - whether it was better for him, having the power to heal this man, to do it, or to suffer him to remain in this suffering condition; and he illustrates it by an example, showing that in a manner of much less importance - that respecting their cattle - they would do on the Sabbath just as “he” would if he should heal this man. The same remark may apply to all opportunities of doing good. “The ability to do good imposes an obligation to do it” (Cotton Mather) He that has the means of feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, and instructing the ignorant, and sending the gospel to the destitute, and that does it not, is guilty, for he is practically doing evil; he is suffering evils to exist which he might remove. So the wicked will be condemned in the day of judgment because “they did it not,” Matthew 25:45. If this is true, what an obligation rests upon the rich to do good!

Mark 3:5

With anger - With a severe and stern countenance; with indignation at their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. This was not, however, a spiteful or revengeful passion; it was caused by excessive “grief” at their state: “being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.” It was not hatred of the “men” whose hearts were so hard; it was hatred of the sin which they exhibited, joined with the extreme grief that neither his teaching nor the law of God, nor any means which could be used, overcame their confirmed wickedness. Such anger is not unlawful, Ephesians 4:26. However, in this instance, our Lord has taught us that anger is never lawful except when it is tempered with grief or compassion for those who have offended.

Hardness of their hearts - The heart, figuratively the seat of feeling or affection, is said to be tender when it is easily affected by the sufferings of others - by our own sin and danger - by the love and commands of God; when we are easily made to feel on the great subjects pertaining to our interest, Ezekiel 11:19-20. It is hard when nothing moves it; when a man is alike insensible to the sufferings of others, to the dangers of his own condition, and to the commands, the love, and the threatenings of God. It is most tender in youth, or when we have committed fewest crimes. It is made hard by indulgence in sin, by long resisting the offers of salvation, or by opposing any great and affecting appeals which God may make to us by his Spirit or providence, by affliction, or by a revival of religion. Hence, it is that the most favorable period for securing an interest in Christ, or for becoming a Christian, is in youth the first, the tenderest, and the best days of life. Nay, in the days of childhood, in the Sabbath-school, God may be found, and the soul prepared to die.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Mark 3:4. To do good - or - evil? to save life, or to kill? — It was a maxim with the Jews, as it should be with all men, that he who neglected to preserve life when it was in his power, was to be reputed a murderer. Every principle of sound justice requires that he should be considered in this light. But, if this be the case, how many murderers are there against whom there is no law but the law of God!

To kill - but instead of αποκτειναι, several MSS. and versions have απολεσαι to destroy. Wetstein and Griesbach quote Theophylact for this reading; but it is not in my copy. Paris edit. 1635.


 
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