Mark 2 23

Mark 2:23 kjv

And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.

Mark 2:23 nkjv

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.

Mark 2:23 niv

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.

Mark 2:23 esv

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.

Mark 2:23 nlt

One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat.

Mark 2 verses

Mark 2 23 Meaning

Mark 2:23 describes Jesus and His disciples passing through grain fields on a Sabbath. During their journey, the disciples, feeling hungry, plucked heads of grain and ate them. This seemingly simple act becomes a pivotal point, as it violates the elaborate Sabbath interpretations of the Pharisees, leading to a direct confrontation over the proper observance of God's law. The verse sets the stage for Jesus to assert His authority over the Sabbath, challenging rigid legalism with principles of human need and divine intent.

Mark 2 23 Context

This verse is situated in Mark chapter 2, which primarily focuses on Jesus' increasing popularity and the emerging conflicts with religious authorities, particularly the Scribes and Pharisees. Preceding events include Jesus healing a paralytic and declaring forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:1-12), eating with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:13-17), and the controversy over fasting (Mark 2:18-22). Each instance showcases Jesus' radical approach to the law, purity, and tradition, asserting His divine authority and foreshadowing a shift from the old covenant to the new. The Sabbath controversy (Mark 2:23-28) is a culmination of these confrontations, directly challenging the meticulously prescribed religious observances that had become burdensome and overshadowed the law's original intent. In the first century, the Sabbath was central to Jewish identity, governed by oral traditions (Halakha) that far extended the Torah's simple commands, forbidding a multitude of specific actions considered "work."

Mark 2 23 Word analysis

• And it came to pass: (Greek: kai egeneto - "and it happened/came to be") A common transitional phrase in biblical narratives, often used to introduce a new event or a turning point in the story.
• that he went: Referring to Jesus, indicating His active movement. This simple act of walking becomes significant due to the timing.
• through the corn fields: (Greek: sporimōn - from sporimos, meaning "sown, ready for sowing, field for corn") Refers to fields where grain (such as wheat or barley) was growing. This suggests it was close to harvest time. The presence of such fields along a path was common.
• on the sabbath day: (Greek: sabbaton - from Hebrew shabbat, meaning "cessation, rest") The pivotal element of the controversy. The Sabbath was the seventh day, a day of rest commanded by God (Ex 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15), consecrated for worship and cessation from labor. Pharisaic interpretations expanded the definition of forbidden "work" (melakha) into 39 categories.
• and his disciples began: Highlighting the followers of Jesus initiating the action. Their act prompts the question from the Pharisees, not Jesus directly.
• as they went: Implies the act was casual, in transit, not a planned harvesting operation. It was a momentary action to satisfy immediate hunger.
• to pluck: (Greek: tillein - to pull off, pluck, pick, tear out). This describes the action of tearing off individual heads of grain, not cutting or reaping a large quantity. According to Deuteronomy 23:25, a traveler was permitted to pluck heads of grain with their hand for immediate consumption, provided they did not use a sickle. The dispute was not about the act itself, but the Sabbath timing.
• the ears of corn: (Greek: stasuas - stalks of grain, ears of wheat or barley). These are the ripened heads containing the edible grains.

Words-Group analysis

• went through the corn fields on the sabbath day: This phrase highlights the intersection of everyday activity (travel) with sacred time (Sabbath). The action is not inherently wrong, but its occurrence on the Sabbath triggers the conflict due to Pharisaic interpretation of prohibited labor.
• disciples began...to pluck the ears of corn: This specific action, though permitted by Old Testament law for a hungry traveler (Deut 23:25), was categorized by Pharisaic oral law as a form of "reaping" (picking/gathering), "threshing" (rubbing the husks off), and "winnowing" (blowing the chaff away), which were among the 39 forbidden types of work on the Sabbath (Mishnah, Shabbat 7:2). Their hunger, therefore, presented a perceived violation of the rigid Sabbath rules.

Mark 2 23 Bonus section

• Context within the 'Disputes' section of Mark: This incident is part of a series of "conflict stories" (Mk 2:1-3:6) where Jesus consistently clashes with Jewish religious authorities over core aspects of their religious practice: authority to forgive sins, associating with sinners, fasting, and Sabbath observance. These encounters progressively reveal Jesus' true identity and authority while highlighting the deep-seated resistance to Him from the establishment.
• The Intent of the Law: The broader narrative surrounding this verse clarifies that the Mosaic Law, including Sabbath regulations, was given by God not to create legalistic burdens, but to bless His people. The Pharisees, through their oral traditions, had perverted this intent, adding rules that trapped people in sin or perceived sin, missing the weightier matters of the law (justice, mercy, and faithfulness). Jesus liberates the Sabbath from this legalistic distortion.
• Parallels in Modern Application: This passage serves as a powerful reminder that human religious traditions, no matter how well-intended, can become an end in themselves, obscuring God's original purpose for commands. It challenges believers to always seek the heart of God's Word – which is love and mercy – rather than adhering to rigid, unfeeling legalism.

Mark 2 23 Commentary

Mark 2:23 initiates the fourth major conflict Jesus has with the religious leaders in quick succession, centering on His approach to the Mosaic Law. The disciples' act of plucking grain was a practical necessity for sustenance on their journey, an act directly permitted for travelers by the Mosaic Law (Deut 23:25). However, the Pharisees, observing Jesus and His disciples, considered this a violation of the Sabbath, specifically equating plucking with "reaping," a forbidden act. Their meticulous and burdensome additions to the Mosaic Law had made the Sabbath a heavy yoke rather than the intended day of rest and joy. Jesus' response, found in the subsequent verses (Mk 2:24-28), reframes the purpose of the Sabbath, asserts the principle of human need (referencing David's actions regarding the showbread), and ultimately declares His own Lordship over the Sabbath. The conflict demonstrates Jesus' authority to correctly interpret God's law, exposing the Pharisees' misplaced emphasis on human tradition over divine intent and genuine compassion. It underscores that God's law is for the benefit of humanity, not to oppress or create legalistic burdens that prevent works of necessity, mercy, or devotion.