KJV King James Version
But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Matthew 12:7
But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
WEB World English Bible
But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
ASV American Standard Version
But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice—ye had not condemned the blameless,
Surrounding context — Matthew 12
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
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?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is [one] greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
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.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
εἰG1487 · eiifδὲG1161 · dethenἐγνώκειτεG1097 · ginōskōto knowτίG5101 · tiswhich?ἐστιν·G1510 · eimito beἔλεοςG1656 · eleosmercyθέλωG2309 · thelōto will/desireκαὶG2532 · kaiandοὐG3756 · ounoθυσίαν,G2378 · thusiasacrificeοὐκG3756 · ounoἂνG302 · anifκατεδικάσατεG2613 · katadikazōto condemnτοὺςG3588 · hothe/this/whoἀναιτίους.G338 · anaitiosinnocent
Cross-references
Hosea 6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Micah 6:6-8Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?Isaiah 1:11-17To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.Proverbs 17:15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.Matthew 22:29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.Acts 13:27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled [them] in condemning [him].Psalm 94:21They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.Psalm 109:31For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save [him] from those that condemn his soul.James 5:6Ye have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he doth not resist you.Job 32:3Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.
CLASSIC COMMENTARY & PREACHING
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