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?
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?
- BSB Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
- 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 therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
- Luke 10:26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
- Matt 19:4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
- Mark 12:20Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
- Matt 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
- Mark 12:26And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
- Matt 21:16And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
- Matt 22:31But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
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.