Matthew 12:3

New Living Translation

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry:

King James Version (1611)
But he said vnto them, Haue yee not read what Dauid did when hee was an hungred, and they that were with him,

King James Version
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

English Standard Version
He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

New American Standard Bible
But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions—

New Century Version
Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and the people with him were hungry?

Amplified Bible
He said to them, "Have you not read [in the Scriptures] what David did when he was hungry, he and those who accompanied him—

Geneva Bible (1587)
But he said vnto them, Haue ye not read what Dauid did when he was an hungred, & they that were with him?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions,

Legacy Standard Bible
But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions,

Berean Standard Bible
Jesus replied, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Contemporary English Version
Jesus answered: You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry.

Complete Jewish Bible
But he said to them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?

Darby Translation
But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him?

Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus said to them, "You have read what David did when he and those with him were hungry.

George Lamsa Translation
But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry?

Good News Translation
Jesus answered, "Have you never read what David did that time when he and his men were hungry?

Lexham English Bible
So he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those with him,

Literal Translation
But He said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he and those with him hungered?

American Standard Version
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;

Bible in Basic English
But he said to them, Have you no knowledge of what David did when he had need of food, and those who were with him?

Hebrew Names Version
But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;

International Standard Version
But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?1 Samuel 21:6;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But he said to them, Have you not read what David did when he hungered, and they who were with him ?

Murdock Translation
But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But he sayde vnto them: Haue ye not read what Dauid did when he was an hungred, and they that were with him:

English Revised Version
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

World English Bible
But he said to them, "Haven't you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him?

Weymouth's New Testament
"Have you never read," He replied, "what David did when he and his men were hungry?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem, Whether ye han not red, what Dauid dide, whanne he hungride, and thei that weren with hym?

Update Bible Version
But he said to them, Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those that were with him;

Webster's Bible Translation
But he said to them, Have ye not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him;

New English Translation
He said to them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry—

New King James Version
But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

New Life Bible
He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry?

New Revised Standard
He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said unto them, have ye never read what, David, did, when he hungered, and they who were with him? how

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him:

Revised Standard Version
He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He sayde vnto the: Haue ye not reed what David did whe he was anhougered and they also which were with him?

Young's Literal Translation
And he said to them, `Did ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, himself and those with him --

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde vnto them: haue ye not red what Dauid did, whan he was hongrie, & they also yt were with him?

Mace New Testament (1729)
he answer'd them, have ye not read what David and the rest of the company did when they were hungry,

THE MESSAGE
Jesus said, "Really? Didn't you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? And didn't you ever read in God's Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against them?

Simplified Cowboy Version
He answered, "Haven't you heard what David did when his crew was hungry?

Contextual Overview

¹ At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. ² But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, "Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath." ³ Jesus said to them, "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴ He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. ⁵ And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? ⁶ I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! ⁷ But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!" ⁹ Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, ¹⁰ where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Have: Matthew 12:5, Matthew 19:4, Matthew 21:16, Matthew 22:31, Mark 12:10, Mark 12:26, Luke 6:3, Luke 10:26

what: 1 Samuel 21:3-6, Mark 2:25, Mark 2:26

Reciprocal: Leviticus 10:20 - he was content Leviticus 24:8 - General 1 Samuel 21:4 - hallowed bread 1 Samuel 21:6 - gave him Psalms 119:139 - because Matthew 9:13 - go

Cross-References

Genesis 18:18
"For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

Genesis 27:29
May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed."

Genesis 28:14
Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

Genesis 30:27
"Please listen to me," Laban replied. "I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you.

Genesis 30:30
You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I've done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?"

Genesis 39:5
From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master's household and property, the Lord began to bless Potiphar's household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

Exodus 23:22
But if you are careful to obey him, following all my instructions, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will oppose those who oppose you.

Numbers 24:9
Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you."

Psalms 72:17
May the king's name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.

Matthew 25:40
"And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he said unto them, have ye not read,.... If they had not read the Scriptures, they were very unfit persons either to be teachers, or censurers of others, and must have been very slothful and negligent; and if they had, they could not but have observed the case of David, which Christ produces in vindication of his disciples:

what David did when he was an hungred; which was the case of the disciples, and is therefore mentioned; it being also the circumstance which could, and did excuse what was done by David and his men: and the Jews themselves own, that in case of hunger the showbread might be eaten, by those that were not priests; not only that which was removed from the table, but that which was upon it; yea, even when there was none to put in its room l; and that David was in the utmost distress, and therefore desired it, and it was granted him on that account. They represent him as thus saying to the priest m,

"when he found there was none but showbread, give it me, that we may not die with hunger; שספק נפשות דוחה שבת, "for danger of life drives away the sabbath";''

which perfectly agrees with our Lord's argument, and justifies the apostles conduct: and this was not a single fact of David's, but of others also;

and they that were with him; for though in 1 Samuel 21:1 he is said to be "alone, and no man with him"; yet this must be understood either comparatively, having but very few with him, and which were as none, considering his dignity; or thus, though none came with him to Ahimelech, pretending to the priest he had a secret affair of the king's to transact; and therefore had left his servants in a certain place, and desires bread for himself and them; concerning whom the priest and he discourses, as may be seen in the place referred to: so that though no man was with him at the priest's house, yet there were some with him, and who partook with him in eating of the showbread.

l R. David Kimchi in 1 Sam. xxi. 5. m Laniado Cli Jaker, fol. 227. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But he said unto them ... - To vindicate his disciples, he referred them to a similar case, recorded in the Old Testament, and therefore one with which they ought to have been acquainted. This was the case of David. The law commanded that twelve loaves of bread should be laid on the table in the holy place in the tabernacle, to remain a week, and then to be eaten by the “priests only.” Their place was then supplied by fresh “bread.” This was called the “showbread,” Leviticus 24:5-9. David, fleeing before Saul, weary and hungry, had come to Ahimelech the priest; had found only this bread; had asked it of him, and had eaten it contrary to the “letter” of the law, 1 Samuel 21:1-7. David, among the Jews, had high authority. This act had passed uncondemned. It proved that in “cases of necessity the laws did not bind a man” - a principle which all laws admit. So the “necessity” of the disciples justified them in doing on the Sabbath what would have been otherwise unlawful.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 12:3-4. Have ye not read what David did — The original history is in 1 Samuel 21:1-6.

When he was an hungered — Here hearken to Kimchi, producing the opinion of the ancients concerning this story in these words: "Our rabbins of blessed memory say, that he gave him the shew-bread, c. The interpretation also of the clause, Yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel, is this: It is a small thing to say, that it is lawful for us to eat THESE LOAVES, taken from before the Lord, when we are hungry for it would be lawful to eat this very loaf which is now set on, which is also sanctified in the vessel, (for the table sanctifieth), it would be lawful to eat even this, when another loaf is not present with you to give us, and we are so hunger-bitten. And a little after, There is nothing which may hinder taking care of life, beside idolatry, adultery, and murder. That is, a man, according to them, should do any thing but these in order to preserve life." See Lightfoot.

He entered into the house of God — Viz. the house of Ahimelech the priest, who dwelt at Nob, with whom the tabernacle then was, in which the Divine presence was manifested.

And did eat the shew-bread — τους αρτους τνς προθεσεως - in Hebrew, לחם פנים lechem panim - bread of the presence, or faces, because this bread was to be set continually, לפני יהוה lipney Yehovah, before the face of Jehovah. See the notes on Exodus 25:23; Exodus 25:30.

"Since part of the frankincense put in the bread was to be burnt on the altar for a memorial, Leviticus 24:7, and since Aaron and his sons were to eat it in the holy place, it is evident that this bread typified Christ, first presented as a sacrifice to, or in the presence of, Jehovah, and then becoming spiritual food to such as, in and through him, are spiritual priests to God. See Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6; also 1 Peter 2:5." Parkhurst.