Matthew 12 · Verse 7

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.
Matthew 12:7, King James Version

Matthew 12:7 in other translations

BSBIf only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.
WEBBut if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
ASVBut if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
YLTand if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice--ye had not condemned the blameless,
DARBYBut if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
BBEBut 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.
WebsterBut if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

What does Matthew 12:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice--(Ho 6:6; Mi 6:6-8, &c.). See on Mt 9:13. ye would not have condemned the guiltless--that is, Had ye understood the great principle of all religion, which the Scripture everywhere recognizes--that ceremonial observances must give way before moral duties, and particularly the necessities of nature--ye would have refrained from these captious complaints against men who in this matter are blameless. But our Lord added a specific application of this great principle to the law of the sabbath, preserved only in Mark: "And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mr 2:27). A glorious and far-reaching maxim, alike for the permanent establishment of the sabbath and the true freedom of its observance.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 7.

(r) "what this means" Hoss 6:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 7 I will have mercy, etc. - See this explained, Mat 9:13. There are four ways in which positive laws may cease to oblige. First, by the natural law of necessity. Secondly, by a particular law, which is superior. Thirdly, by the law of charity and mercy. Fourthly, by the dispensation and authority of the Lawgiver. These cases are all exemplified from Mat 12:4-8.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:1-8

Being in the corn-fields, the disciples began to pluck the ears of corn: the law of God allowed it, De 23:25. This was slender provision for Christ and his disciples; but they were content with it. The Pharisees did not quarrel with them for taking another man's corn, but for doing it on the sabbath day. Christ came to free his followers, not only from the corruptions of the Pharisees, but from their unscriptural…

Read the full comment on Matthew 12:1-8 →

Matthew 12:7 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.

εἰeiIfG1487
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐγνώκειτεegnōkeiteyou had knownG1097
τίtiwhatG5101
ἐστιν·estinis;G1510
ἔλεοςeleosmercyG1656
θέλωthelōI desireG2309
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐounot [desire]G3756
θυσίαν,thusiansacrifice,’G2378
οὐκouknotG3756
ἂνanthen wouldG302
κατεδικάσατεkatedikasateyou have condemnedG2613
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἀναιτίους.anaitiousguiltless.G338

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

Cross references for Matthew 12:7

  • Hosea 6:6

    For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

  • Matthew 9:13

    But 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 6:6-8

    Wherewith 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? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

  • Isaiah 1:11-17

    To 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. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. …

  • Proverbs 17:15

    He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

  • Matthew 22:29

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

  • Acts 13:27

    For 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.

  • Psalms 109:31

    For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.

  • James 5:6

    Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

  • Psalms 94:21

    They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

  • Job 32:3

    Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
if.
9:13; 22:29; Ac 13:27
I will.That is, I desire, or require mercy, or acts of humanity, rather than sacrifice.
Isa 1:11-17; Ho 6:6; Mic 6:6-8
condemned.
Job 32:3; Ps 94:21; 109:31; Pr 17:15; Jas 5:6

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

Context

  • Matthew 12:6

    But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 12:8

    For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas si supieseis qué es: Misericordia quiero y no sacrificio, no condenaríais á los inocentes:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si vous aviez connu ce que c’est que: « Je veux miséricorde et non pas sacrifice », vous n’auriez pas condamné ceux qui ne sont pas coupables.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ihr aber erkannt hättet, was es ist: "Ich will Barmherzigkeit und nicht Schlachtopfer", so würdet ihr die Schuldlosen nicht verurteilt haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si autem sciretis, quid est: Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium: numquam condemnassetis innocentes: