MAT 12:7 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT But if you had known what this is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

UST Suppose that you truly understood what God has said in the Scriptures: ‘What I most want is that people treat each other mercifully, not that people present offerings to me.’ Then, you would not have declared my apprentices guilty when they have actually not disobeyed the laws about the Jewish day of rest.

BLB But if you had known what this is, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' then you would not have condemned the guiltless.

AICNT “And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’[fn] you would not have condemned the guiltless.

12:7, Hosea 6:6 LXX

OEB Had you learned the meaning of the words – “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned those who are not guilty.

WEBBE But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET If you had known what this means: ‘ I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

LSV and if you had known what [this] is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice—you had not condemned the blameless,

FBV If you'd known the meaning of this Scripture, ‘I want mercy, and not sacrifice,’[fn] you wouldn't have condemned an innocent man.

12:7 Quoting Hosea 6:6.

TCNT But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

T4T You should think about these words of God in the Scriptures: ‘I want you to act mercifully toward people, and not just offer sacrifices.’ If you understood what that means, you would not condemn my disciples, who have done no wrong.

LEB And if you had known what _⌊it means_⌋,[fn] ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

12:7 Literally “it is”

BBE But if these words had been in your minds, My desire is for mercy and not for offerings, you would not have been judging those who have done no wrong.

Moff Besides, if you had known what this meant, I care for mercy not for sacrifice, you would not have condemned men who are not guilty.

Wymth And if you knew what this means, `It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned those who are without guilt.

ASV But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

DRA And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.

YLT and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice — ye had not condemned the blameless,

Drby But if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

RV But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
(But if ye/you_all had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye/you_all would not have condemned the guiltless. )

SLT And if ye knew what it is, I will mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the innocent.

Wbstr But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

KJB-1769 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
(But if ye/you_all had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye/you_all would not have condemned the guiltless. )

KJB-1611 But if yee had knowen what this meaneth, I will haue mercy, and not sacrifice, yee would not haue condemned the guiltlesse.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps Wherfore if ye wist what this meaneth, I will mercie & not sacrifice: ye woulde not haue condempned the giltlesse.
(Wherefore if ye/you_all wist what this meaneth, I will mercy and not sacrifice: ye/you_all would not have condemned the guiltless.)

Gnva Wherefore if ye knewe what this is, I will haue mercie, and not sacrifice, ye would not haue condemned the innocents.
(Wherefore if ye/you_all knew what this is, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye/you_all would not have condemned the innocents. )

Cvdl But yf ye wyst what this were (I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offeringe) ye wolde not haue condemned innocentes:
(But if ye/you_all wyst what this were (I have pleasure in mercy, and not in offering) ye/you_all would not have condemned innocents:)

TNT Wherfore yf ye had wist what this sayinge meneth: I require mercy and not sacrifice: ye wold never have condemned innocetes.
(Wherefore if ye/you_all had wist what this saying meneth: I require mercy and not sacrifice: ye/you_all wold never have condemned innocentes. )

Wycl And if ye wisten, what it is, Y wole merci, and not sacrifice, ye schulden neuer haue condempned innocentis.
(And if ye/you_all knewn, what it is, I will mercy, and not sacrifice, ye/you_all should never have condemned innocents.)

Luth Wenn ihr aber wüßtet, was‘ das sei: Ich habe Wohlgefallen an der Barmherzigkeit und nicht am Opfer, hättet ihr die Unschuldigen nicht verdammt.
(When you(pl)/their/her but I_would_knowt, was‘ the sei: I have pleasure at/to the/of_the compassion and not in/at/on_the victim/prey, would_have you(pl)/their/her the innocent_(one) not damned.)

ClVg Si autem sciretis, quid est: Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium: numquam condemnassetis innocentes:[fn]
(When/But_if however would_knowis, what it_is: Mercym I_want, and not/no sacrifice: never condemnassetis innocent: )

12.7 Si autem. Et vos ostenderet omnia futuri temporis speciem continere, adjecit: Si autem sciretis, id est, quia Deus per gratiam disposuit liberare populum, et non per exteriores observantias, non reprehenderetis meos, si vetera omittunt.

12.7 When/But_if however. And you(pl) would_show everything of_the_future time appearance continere, added: When/But_if however would_knowis, that it_is, because God through grace arranged to_free the_people, and not/no through exteriores observantias, not/no reprehenderetis mine, when/but_if old omittunt.

UGNT εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν, ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
(ei de egnōkeite ti estin, eleos thelō kai ou thusian, ouk an katedikasate tous anaitious.)

SBL-GNT εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν· Ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
(ei de egnōkeite ti estin; Eleos thelō kai ou thusian, ouk an katedikasate tous anaitious.)

RP-GNT Εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν, Ἔλεον θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
(Ei de egnōkeite ti estin, Eleon thelō kai ou thusian, ouk an katedikasate tous anaitious.)

TC-GNT Εἰ δὲ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν, [fn]Ἔλεον θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους.
(Ei de egnōkeite ti estin, Eleon thelō kai ou thusian, ouk an katedikasate tous anaitious. )

12:7 ελεον ¦ ελεος CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 12:1–14: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath

There are two main events in this section. One is about picking grain on the Sabbath. The other is about healing on the Sabbath. These two events show that Jesus has the authority to decide which deeds are acceptable to do on the Sabbath.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus showed that he has authority over Sabbath rules

Lord of the Sabbath (NIV)

The Pharisees criticize Jesus because of what he did on the Sabbath

There are parallel passages for this section in Mark 2:23–3:6 and Luke 6:1–11.

12:7a–c

(reordered) (GNT:) The scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty.

Before you translate 12:7, carefully consider the most natural way in your language to order the clauses. In some languages, it will be more natural to put 12:7b before 12:7a. For example:

^bThe scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ ^aIf you really knew what this means, ^cyou would not condemn people who are not guilty…. (GNT)

12:7a

If only you had known the meaning of

If you^(plur) had understood these words:
You^(plur) should have known the meaning of the following words that God spoke,

If only you had known the meaning of: This clause is an “if” clause. Jesus used this “if clause” to rebuke the Pharisees. He rebuked them because they did not know/understand the true meaning of the quote in 12:7b, but they should have understood it. They knew the quote, but they did not understand how to apply it in their everyday lives.

Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:

As an “if” clause. For example:
If you really knew what this means (GNT)
If you had grasped the meaning of the scripture (JBP)
As a rhetorical question. For example:
Don’t you know what the Scriptures mean when they say…? (CEV)
As a statement plus an “if” clause. For example:
You don’t really know what those words mean. If you understood them… (NCV)

Translate this rebuke in a way that is most natural in your language.

the meaning of: The words the meaning of refer to the significance of the words that follow in 12:7b. 12:7b is from Hosea 6:6. You may want to introduce 12:7b indicating that God spoke these words. For example:

these words of God

the following words that God spoke in Scripture

12:7b

‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’

‘Kindness is what I want, not sacrifice,’
‘I want you to have concern/pity for others more than I want your sacrifices.’

I desire mercy, not sacrifice: This is a quote from Hosea. (This quote also occurs in 9:13b.) It is a comparison of two things: mercy and sacrifice. It means that God considers it more important for people to show mercy to other people than for them to follow the laws concerning sacrifices. It does not mean that God wanted his people to stop offering sacrifices.

In some languages, it may be more natural to express this comparison in another way. For example:

I want you^(plur) to show mercy to each other. That is more important than your sacrifices to me.

I want kindness more than I want animal sacrifices. (NCV)

mercy: The word mercy means “compassion” or “concern” or “pity” towards someone else. For example:

compassion (NASB)

kindness (NCV)

In some languages it may be necessary to indicate who should have mercy and to whom. For example:

I want you to be merciful to others. (CEV)

I want people to pity/love others.

sacrifice: The word sacrifice refers to the killing of animals at the temple and offering them to God. God required the Jews to offer animal sacrifices to him regularly.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

animal sacrifices (GNT)

offering sacrifices to me (CEV)

12:7c

you would not have condemned the innocent.

you would not have judged people who have not broken the law.
If you had known the meaning of those words, you would not blame/criticize people who are innocent.

you would not have condemned: The word condemned means “judge and call guilty or evil.” The Pharisees condemned the disciples when they said that the disciples had broken the Sabbath law. Jesus said that the Pharisees should not have condemned his disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

you would not judge (NCV)

you would not blame/criticize

you would not find guilty

you would not decide/say that they are lawbreakers

the innocent: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates the innocent means “people who are not guilty of a crime or sin.”

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

those who have not broken the law

these innocent disciples of mine (CEV)

those who have done nothing wrong (NCV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

The word But introduces a further development of what Jesus has been saying about the Sabbath. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a development, or you could leave But untranslated. Alternate translation: [Now] or [In fact,]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-contrary

εἰ & ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστιν, ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν, οὐκ ἂν κατεδικάσατε τοὺς ἀναιτίους

if & ˱you_all˲_˓had˒_known what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

Jesus is making a conditional statement that sounds hypothetical, but he is already convinced that the condition is not true. He has concluded that the Pharisees have not understood this quotation, because they have indeed condemned the innocent. Use a natural form in your language for introducing a condition that the speaker believes is not true. Alternate translation: [since you do not know what this is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you have condemned the innocent]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

τί ἐστιν

what (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

Jesus means that they should learn the meaning of the passage he is about to quote. See how you translated this phrase in [9:13](../09/13.md). Alternate translation: [what this means] or [the meaning of this passage]

Note 4 topic: writing-quotations

ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

Jesus introduces a quotation from [Hosea 6:6](../hos/06/06.md), where God is speaking to the Israelites. Jesus has already quoted this verse in [9:13](../09/13.md), so translate it exactly as you did there.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τοὺς ἀναιτίους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

Jesus is using the adjective innocent as a noun in order to describe his disciples. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this with a noun phrase. Alternate translation: [people who are innocent] or [my innocent disciples]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τοὺς ἀναιτίους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Δέ ἐγνώκειτε τί ἐστίν Ἔλεος θέλω καί οὒ θυσίαν οὐκ ἄν κατεδικάσατε τούς ἀναιτίους)

Jesus means that his disciples are innocent of breaking the Sabbath laws. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [those who are innocent of breaking the Sabbath] or [those who have not disobeyed Sabbath laws]

Parallel MAT 12:7

Section 12:1–14: Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath

12:7a–c

12:7a

12:7b

12:7c