Devine Scripture

Matthew 12:11

What does Matthew 12:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 12:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 12:11 means

Jesus answers by appealing to common sense: if someone’s sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, a man would rescue it. He uses everyday compassion as a criterion for lawfulness. The example shows that necessity and mercy override Sabbath constraints, and implies that human beings are of greater worth than animals. Jesus reframes the Sabbath from strict prohibition to a context where doing good is permitted—even expected—when it alleviates suffering.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And 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?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And 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?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to them, Which of you, having a sheep, if it gets into a hole on the Sabbath day, will not put out a helping hand and get it back?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said to them, `What man shall be of you, who shall have one sheep, and if this may fall on the sabbaths into a ditch, will not lay hold on it and raise <FI>it<Fi> ?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said to them: What man shall there be among you, that hath one sheep: and if the same fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not take hold on it and lift it up?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But he said to them, What man shall there be of you who has one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and raise [it] up?

Context

This practical illustration follows the synagogue question and continues Jesus’ method of exposing the Pharisees’ hypocrisy. It contrasts ordinary human compassion with their legalism. This setup prepares his next argument: that a person is of much greater value than a sheep, so healing is lawful and right on the Sabbath.

v.10and 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.

v.11This passage

v.12How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 13:15

    But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

  • Deuteronomy 22:4

    Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.

  • Luke 14:5

    And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day?

  • Exodus 23:4

    If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

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