Mark 3:4
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
KJV
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· ἔξεστιν τοῖς σάββασιν ἀγαθὸν ποιῆσαι ἢ κακοποιῆσαι, ψυχὴν σῶσαι ἢ ἀποκτεῖναι; οἱ δὲ ἐσιώπων.
Greek NT
Et dicit eis : Licet sabbatis benefacere, an male ? animam salvam facere, an perdere ? At illi tacebant.
Vulgate
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
ASV
And he saith to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy? But they held their peace.
Douay-Rheims
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In the original Greek
15 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.
Textual variants
1 variant unit attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.
- ἀγαθοποιῆσαι — SBLGNT
- ἀγαθοποιῆσαι — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Robinson-Pierpont
- ἀγαθὸν ποιῆσαι — Reader's GNT (NA27)
Historic Christian voices
4 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.
§574From the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, certain Pharisees and partisans of Herod together with priests and scribes agreed together to destroy him.317 Because of certain acts of his expelling demons, forgiving sins, healing on the sabbath day, his novel interpretation of the precepts of the Law regarding purity, and his familiarity with tax collectors and public sinners318…
§2173The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day.98 He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."99 With compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for saving life rather than k…
Cross-references
- Gal 6:10 — As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
- Hos 6:6 — For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
- John 5:10 — The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
- Luke 6:9 — Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
- Luke 6:9 — Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
- Luke 13:13 — And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
- Luke 14:1 — And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
- Luke 14:3 — And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
- Mark 2:27 — And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
- Mark 9:34 — But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
- Matt 12:10 — And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
- Matt 12:12 — How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.