Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:1

What does Matthew 12:1 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:1 means

Matthew 12:1 shows Jesus and his disciples walking through grainfields on the Sabbath. The disciples, hungry, pluck and eat grain. The verse highlights their basic human need and ordinary action, which provokes an ethical question about Sabbath observance. It sets the scene for a clash between Jesus and the Pharisees over how the law should apply. The moment portrays Jesus’ ministry lived out among ordinary needs and points to his teaching that the law serves people, not the reverse.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

At that time Jesus went through the fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples, being in need of food, were taking the heads of grain.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

At that time did Jesus go on the sabbaths through the corn, and his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck ears, and to eat,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath through the cornfields; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears and to eat.

Context

This verse opens the chapter with a concrete incident that triggers conflict. Earlier chapters show growing attention to Jesus; here the narrative shifts to Sabbath disputes with the Pharisees. What follows are debates and healings that define Jesus’ authority over Sabbath practice and reveal deeper principles about mercy, law, and lordship.

v.1This passage

v.2But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Luke 6:1

    Now it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

  • Deuteronomy 23:25

    When thou comest into thy neighbor’s standing grain, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor’s standing grain.

  • Mark 2:23

    And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears.

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