Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to them, “Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry — he, and those who were with him?
- KJV And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
- NKJV But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:
- NASB And He *said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry;
- NLT Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
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
Jesus answers by appealing to David, who ate the consecrated bread when in need. He shows that human need rightly takes precedence over ceremonial restriction.
Overview
Citing 1 Samuel 21, Jesus points to David eating the holy bread reserved for priests when he and his men were hungry. The example shows that God's law was never meant to be applied without regard for genuine human need and mercy. By aligning Himself with David, Jesus also hints at His own messianic authority, which He makes explicit in the verses that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Sam 21:3–6Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”
- Luke 10:26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
- Matt 19:4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
- Mark 12:20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.
- Matt 21:42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- Mark 12:26But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
- Matt 21:16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”
- Matt 22:31But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 2:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.