The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
Parallel translations
- WEB So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
- BSB so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It is unlawful for you to carry your mat.”
- NKJV The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
- NASB So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is a Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”
- NLT so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Jewish leaders objected that carrying the mat broke the Sabbath. They focused on rule-keeping rather than the mercy shown.
Overview
The leaders' challenge reflects their tradition forbidding carrying burdens on the Sabbath. Their concern for regulation blinds them to the wonder of a man healed after thirty-eight years. The scene exposes a religion of external observance that misses God's compassionate purpose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Jer 17:21Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
- Luke 6:2And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
- John 9:16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.
- Mark 3:4And 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.
- Luke 13:14And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
- Mark 2:24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
- Neh 13:15–21In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
- Matt 12:2–8But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
- John 5:16And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
- Exod 20:8–11Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
- John 7:23If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?
- Exod 31:12–17And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
- Isa 58:13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
- Jer 17:27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
- Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
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Original language
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