Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:10

What does Matthew 12:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:10 means

In the synagogue Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand. The Pharisees ask whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, revealing their intent to accuse Jesus regardless of his answer. Their question is not honest inquiry but a trap. The withered hand provides a concrete moral test. Jesus faces a moral decision: uphold rigid Sabbath rules or do compassion. The verses underline the Pharisees’ hostility and willingness to use a vulnerable person to attack Jesus.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there was a man with a dead hand. And they put a question to him, saying, Is it right to make a man well on the Sabbath day? so that they might have something against him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and lo, there was a man having the hand withered, and they questioned him, saying, `Is it lawful to heal on the sabbaths?' that they might accuse him.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold there was a man who had a withered hand, and they asked him, saying: Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And behold, there was a man having his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath? that they might accuse him.

Context

This scene immediately follows Jesus’ earlier Sabbath teaching. It heightens tension: a human need confronts legalism in a sacred place. The Pharisees’ question shows their strategy of entrapment, and the narrative is set to demonstrate Jesus’ consistent priority of mercy and healing over legalistic restrictions.

v.9And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:

v.10This passage

v.11And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Cross references

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

  • John 8:6

    And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

  • Luke 14:3

    And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?

  • Matthew 22:17

    Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not?

  • Isaiah 59:13

    transgressing and denying Jehovah, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

  • Matthew 19:3

    And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

  • John 5:10

    So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

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