Mark 2 25

Mark 2:25 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?

Mark 2:25 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:

Mark 2:25 niv

He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

Mark 2:25 esv

And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him:

Mark 2:25 nlt

Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Mark 2 verses

Mark 2 25 Meaning

Mark 2:25 presents Jesus' defense of His disciples' actions by recalling a significant Old Testament event involving King David. Jesus challenged the Pharisees' rigid, legalistic interpretation of the Sabbath law by highlighting a well-known biblical precedent where human need superseded a ceremonial regulation. His point was that David, a highly esteemed figure, was justified in eating the consecrated showbread, normally reserved only for priests, due to his and his companions' extreme hunger and necessity. By drawing this parallel, Jesus implies that His disciples, also in genuine need, were similarly justified in plucking grain on the Sabbath, thus prioritizing human compassion and the spirit of the Law over a strict, uncompassionate observance. This teaching reveals God's true intention for the Sabbath—to benefit humanity, not burden it.

Mark 2 25 Context

This verse is part of a series of conflict stories in Mark's Gospel (Mark 2:1-3:6), where Jesus repeatedly challenges the religious establishment. Specifically, Mark 2:23-28 details a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath. The act itself was permitted under Deuteronomic law (Deut 23:25), allowing one to eat from another's field out of immediate hunger, but the Pharisees considered plucking the grain to be a form of harvesting or threshing, and therefore prohibited labor on the Sabbath according to their stringent interpretations (oral tradition, Halakhah). Jesus' reference to David is a counter-argument, showing that extraordinary circumstances of need (hunger) justify actions that might otherwise be unlawful according to strict, ritualistic interpretations. This not only defends His disciples but also critiques the Pharisees' misplaced emphasis on human rules over God's intended purpose for the Sabbath and compassion.

Mark 2 25 Word analysis

• And He said (kai elegen - καὶ ἔλεγεν): This phrase indicates Jesus' ongoing discourse or immediate response to the Pharisees' accusation. It underscores His authoritative teaching role. Jesus isn't just reacting; He's declaring.
• to them (autois - αὐτοῖς): Refers directly to the Pharisees who had questioned the disciples' actions (Mk 2:24). This highlights the direct confrontation with religious authorities.
• "Have you never read (Oudeplōpote anegñōte - Οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε): A powerful rhetorical question implying rebuke and an expectation of knowledge from His accusers. Anegñōte (ἀνέγνωτε) means "you read" or "you knew by reading," suggesting they were supposed to be experts in the Scriptures. The negative interrogative "Oudeplōpote" (οὐδέποτε - "never yet") is very strong, indicating their lack of true spiritual insight despite their familiarity with the Torah.
• what David did (ho epoiesen Dauid - ὃ ἐποίησεν Δαυίδ): Refers to the renowned King David (1 Sam 21:1-6), a figure highly revered in Jewish tradition as the archetype of God's anointed leader and Israel's greatest king. Citing David's actions lends immense weight to Jesus' argument, as questioning David's righteousness was almost unthinkable for a Jew.
• when he was in need (hote chreian eschen - ὅτε χρείαν ἔσχεν): Chreian (χρείαν) denotes a compelling "necessity" or "dire need." It signifies more than just wanting something; it's a fundamental requirement. David's circumstances were urgent, bordering on a matter of life and death, legitimizing his action.
• and hungry (kai epeinasen - καὶ ἐπείνασεν): Epeinasen (ἐπείνασεν) emphasizes the severe "hunger" or starvation. This isn't casual hunger but a pressing need for sustenance that directly threatened life, making it a case of legitimate urgency. This immediate, physical necessity is key to understanding the exception made for David.
• he and those with him— (autos kai hoi met’ autou - αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ): Jesus specifically includes David's companions, creating a direct parallel to His own situation with His disciples. Just as David and his men faced a collective necessity, so did Jesus and His disciples, legitimizing the collective act of plucking grain.

Words-group analysis

• "Have you never read what David did": This entire rhetorical challenge highlights the Pharisees' failure to understand their own Scriptures deeply. They possessed the text but lacked spiritual insight into its core principles, especially concerning mercy and life. It sets up a contrast between rote memorization and true understanding of God's heart.
• "when he was in need and hungry": This phrase forms the justification for David's action. The "need" (chreia) coupled with "hunger" (peinaō) establishes an emergency, a state of necessity that allows for a temporary suspension of certain ritual laws. This concept was recognized in Jewish thought: the preservation of life (Pikuach Nefesh) superseded most Mitzvot (commandments).
• "he and those with him": This part emphasizes the communal nature of the necessity. David was not acting for himself alone, just as Jesus' disciples were part of a group sharing the same need. It validates the corporate act of seeking food on the Sabbath in exceptional circumstances, mirroring David's act.

Mark 2 25 Bonus section

This verse not only functions as a defense but also as a powerful claim to Jesus' authority. By appealing to the Davidic precedent, Jesus subtly implies His own "greater than" status. The showbread in 1 Samuel 21 was associated with the holy presence of God, found in the tabernacle, implying David's sacred authorization by necessity. For Jesus to allow His disciples to transgress a Sabbath rule based on necessity, citing this ancient precedent, positions Him with an authority parallel to or even exceeding that of a revered king like David, and importantly, as someone who understands the deeper, divine intention behind the law—that "mercy is desired, not sacrifice" (Hos 6:6). This episode highlights a clash of hermeneutics: the Pharisees' rigid, rule-based interpretation versus Jesus' compassionate, principle-based interpretation, rooted in the true spirit of God's covenant and His desire for the flourishing of humanity.

Mark 2 25 Commentary

Jesus' response to the Pharisees' accusation is profound. He shifts the ground from strict adherence to ritual law to the overarching principles of God's heart and the true purpose of His commandments. By invoking the incident with David and the showbread, Jesus demonstrates that certain laws, especially those ceremonial in nature, yield to greater moral imperatives, such as human well-being and life itself, particularly in cases of dire necessity. The showbread was holy and exclusive to priests, yet David and his men, in extreme hunger, were allowed to eat it without condemnation from God. Jesus implicitly compares Himself and His disciples to David and his men—people in legitimate need. Moreover, Jesus subtly elevates His own authority, suggesting that if David, an earthly king, could break a ritual law due to necessity, how much more could the Son of Man, Lord of the Sabbath, rightly do so for the benefit of His companions. The core message is that the Sabbath was intended as a blessing for humanity, not a rigid constraint leading to suffering or spiritual legalism. It reminds us that compassion and the spirit of the law often outweigh the letter, especially when interpreting God's will for His people.