King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yeshua answered them, "Haven't you ever read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
Berean Standard Bible:
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
American Standard Version:
And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} Jesus{G2424} answering{G611} them{G4314}{G846} said{G2036}, Have ye{G314} not{G3761} read{G314} so much as{G3761} this{G5124}, what{G3739} David{G1138} did{G4160}, when{G3698} himself{G846} was an hungred{G3983}, and{G2532} they which{G3588} were{G5607} with{G3326} him{G846};
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 21:3
- Now therefore what is under thine hand? give [me] five [loaves of] bread in mine hand, or what there is present.
1 Samuel 21:6
- So the priest gave him hallowed [bread]: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Mark 2:25
- 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?
Mark 2:26
- How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
Matthew 12:3
- But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
Matthew 12:5
- Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
Matthew 21:16
- And 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?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Luke 6:3
Luke 6:3 is a verse that captures a moment in Jesus' ministry where He is engaging with the Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious leaders. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and their own oral traditions. In this encounter, they are questioning Jesus about His disciples' behavior on the Sabbath, specifically their plucking of heads of grain to eat as they walked through a field, which the Pharisees considered a form of work and thus a violation of Sabbath laws.
In response to their challenge, Jesus refers to a historical event involving King David from the Old Testament. The story He alludes to is found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6, where David, while fleeing from King Saul, requested and received consecrated bread from the priest Ahimelech to feed himself and his men. This bread was normally reserved for the priests, but Ahimelech made an exception due to David's hunger and circumstances. Jesus uses this example to illustrate that human need can take precedence over ceremonial regulations, a principle that He is applying to His own situation with the disciples.
The themes present in this verse include the nature of religious law, the importance of compassion and understanding human need, and the authority of Jesus to interpret and apply the law. Jesus is emphasizing that the spirit of the law, which includes caring for the needy and showing mercy, is more important than the letter of the law, which can sometimes lead to legalism and lack of compassion. This confrontation also highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious establishment of His time, setting the stage for His broader teachings about the Kingdom of God and His role as the Messiah who fulfills the law and the prophets.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus. - Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer. - Strong's Number: G4314
There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρός
Transliteration: prós
Pronunciation: pros
Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G314
There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀναγινώσκω
Transliteration: anaginṓskō
Pronunciation: an-ag-in-oce'-ko
Description: from ἀνά and γινώσκω; to know again, i.e. (by extension) to read:--read. - Strong's Number: G3761
There are 125 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐδέ
Transliteration: oudé
Pronunciation: oo-deh'
Description: from οὐ and δέ; not however, i.e. neither, nor, not even:--neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as. - Strong's Number: G5124
There are 303 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τοῦτο
Transliteration: toûto
Pronunciation: too'-to
Description: neuter singular nominative or accusative case of οὗτος; that thing:--here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore). - Strong's Number: G3739
There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅς
Transliteration: hós
Pronunciation: ho
Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ. - Strong's Number: G1138
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Δαβίδ
Transliteration: Dabíd
Pronunciation: dab-eed'
Description: of Hebrew origin (דָּוִד); Dabid (i.e. David), the Israelite king:--David. - Strong's Number: G4160
There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ποιέω
Transliteration: poiéō
Pronunciation: poy-eh'-o
Description: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare πράσσω. - Strong's Number: G3698
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὁπότε
Transliteration: hopóte
Pronunciation: hop-ot'-eh
Description: from ὅς and ποτέ; what(-ever) then, i.e. (of time) as soon as:--when. - Strong's Number: G3983
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πεινάω
Transliteration: peináō
Pronunciation: pi-nah'-o
Description: from the same as πένης (through the idea of pinching toil; "pine"); to famish (absolutely or comparatively); figuratively, to crave:--be an hungered. - Strong's Number: G3588
There are 498 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὁ
Transliteration: ho
Pronunciation: to
Description: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc. - Strong's Number: G5607
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὤν
Transliteration: ṓn
Pronunciation: on
Description: present participle of εἰμί; being:--be, come, have. - Strong's Number: G3326
There are 445 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μετά
Transliteration: metá
Pronunciation: met-ah'
Description: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between ἀπό or ἐκ and εἰς or πρός; less intimate than ἐν and less close than σύν):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.