Luke 6 · Verse 9

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, King James Version

Luke 6:9 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
WEBThen Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?”
ASVAnd Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?
YLTThen said Jesus unto them, ‘I will question you something: Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? life to save or to kill?'
DARBYJesus therefore said to them, I will ask you if it is lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
BBEAnd Jesus said, I put the question to you, Is it right to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? to give life or to take it away?
WebsterThen said Jesus to 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?

What does Luke 6:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. good, or ... evil, save ... or destroy--By this novel way of putting His case, our Lord teaches the great ethical principle, that to neglect any opportunity of doing good is to incur the guilt of doing evil; and by this law He bound His own spirit. (See Mr 3:4.)

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. No entry from BARNES for this verse.

(h) "Is it lawful on the sabbath days" Ex 20:10, Lk 14:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 I will ask you one thing - I will put a question to you. See on Mar 3:4, Mar 3:5 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 6:6-11

Christ was neither ashamed nor afraid to own the purposes of his grace. He healed the poor man, though he knew that his enemies would take advantage against him for it. Let us not be drawn either from our duty or from our usefulness by any opposition. We may well be amazed, that the sons of men should be so wicked.

Read the full comment on Luke 6:6-11 →

Luke 6:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἶπενeipenSaidG2036
δὲdethenG1161
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
πρὸςprostoG4314
αὐτούς·autousthem;G846
ἐπερωτῶeperōtōI askG1905
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
εἰeiifG1487
ἔξεστινexestinit is lawfulG1832
τῷtōon theG3588
σαββάτῳsabbatōSabbathG4521
ἀγαθοποιῆσαιagathopoiēsaito do goodG15
ἢēorG2228
κακοποιῆσαι;kakopoiēsaito do evil?G2554
ψυχὴνpsuchēnLifeG5590
σῶσαιsōsaito saveG4982
ἢēorG2228
ἀπολέσαι;apolesaito destroy?G622

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 6:9

  • 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.

  • Matthew 12:12-13

    How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

  • Luke 14:3

    And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

  • John 7:19-23

    Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. …

  • Luke 9:56

    For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Is it.
14:3; Mt 12:12,13; Mr 3:4; Joh 7:19-23
to save.
9:56

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 6:8

    But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

  • 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 6:10

    And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Read all of Luke 6

Luke 6:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Jesús les dice: Os preguntaré una cosa: ¿Es lícito en sábados hacer bien, ó hacer mal? ¿salvar la vida, ó quitarla?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus donc leur dit: Je vous demanderai s’il est permis, le jour de sabbat, de faire du bien ou de faire du mal, de sauver la vie ou de la perdre?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jesus sprach nun zu ihnen: Ich will euch fragen, ob es erlaubt ist, am Sabbath Gutes zu tun oder Böses zu tun, das Leben zu retten oder zu verderben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ait autem ad illos Jesus: Interrogo vos si licet sabbatis benefacere, an male: animam salvam facere, an perdere?