Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Parallel translations
- WEB But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
- KJV But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
- NKJV But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
- NASB But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions—
- NLT Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you 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 appeals to David's example when he and his men were hungry. Scripture itself shows mercy taking precedence in cases of need.
Overview
Jesus answers the Pharisees from their own Scriptures, citing 1 Samuel 21:1-6. By invoking David, he prepares to show that human need can rightly override ceremonial restriction. The rebuke 'Haven't you read?' exposes the Pharisees' failure to grasp the heart of the law they claimed to guard.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Sam 21:3–6Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”
- Luke 6:3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
- Mark 2:25–26Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
- Mark 12:10Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- 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:
- 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 12:5Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?
- Matt 19:4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
- Luke 10:26“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 12:3 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
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