Luke 6:4

Verse

He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

American Standard Version (1901)

how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?

Bible in Basic English

How he went into the house of God and took for food the holy bread, which only the priests may take, and gave it to those who were with him?

Douay-Rheims 1899

How he went into the house of God, and took and ate the bread of proposition, and gave to them that were with him, which is not lawful to eat but only for the priests?

Free Bible Version

How he went into the house of God and took the consecrated bread? He ate it, and gave it to his men too. That's not permitted either. The consecrated bread is only for the priests.”

Geneva Bible 1599

Howe he went into the house of God, and tooke, and ate the shewbread, and gaue also to them which were with him, which was not lawful to eate, but for the Priests onely?

King James (Authorized) Version

How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

One Unity Resource Bible

how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread from the table of Yahweh, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”

Translation for Translators

David entered God’s big worship tent and asked for some food. The high priest gave him the bread that the priests had presented to God. It was permitted in one of Moses’ laws that only the priests could eat that bread. But even though David was not a priest, he ate some, and gave some to the men who were with him. And God did not consider that what David did was wrong!”

Unlocked Literal Bible

He went into the house of God, and took the bread of the presence and ate some of it, and also gave some to the men who were with him to eat, even though it was only lawful for the priests to eat it.”

Noah Webster Bible

How he went into the house of God, and took and ate the show-bread, and gave also to them that were with him, which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

World English Bible

how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?”

Young's Literal Translation

how he went into the house of God, and the loaves of the presentation did take, and did eat, and gave also to those with him, which it is not lawful to eat, except only to the priests?'

Context

The Lord of the Sabbath

³Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? ⁴He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Summary

In Luke 6:4, Jesus refers to the Old Testament account of David and his companions eating the consecrated bread, which was only lawful for the priests to eat. By mentioning this incident, Jesus highlights the principle of mercy and compassion over legalistic adherence to the law. He emphasizes the importance of human need and the spirit of the law rather than rigid observance of rules. This verse underscores Jesus' authority to reinterpret traditional laws in light of God's higher purposes and the value of showing kindness and understanding towards others.

Commentary

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

After this verse, the Codex Bezae and two ancient MSS. quoted by Wechel, have the following extraordinary addition: Τῃ αυτῃ ἡμερᾳ θεασαμενος τινα εργαζομενον τῳ σαββατῳ, ειπεν αυτῳ, Ανθρωπε, ει μεν οιδας τι ποιεις μακαριος ει; ει δε μη οιδας επικαταρατος, και παραβατης ειτου νομου. On the same day, seeing one working on the Sabbath, he said unto him, Man, if indeed thou knowest what thou dost, blessed art thou; but if thou knowest not, thou art cursed, and art a transgressor of the law. Whence this strange addition proceeded, it is hard to tell. The meaning seems to be this: If thou now workest on the Jewish Sabbath, from a conviction that that Sabbath is abolished, and a new one instituted in its place, then happy art thou, for thou hast got Divine instruction in the nature of the Messiah's kingdom; but if thou doest this through a contempt for the law of God, then thou art accursed, forasmuch as thou art a transgressor of the law. The Itala version of the Codex Bezae, for παραβατης, transgressor, has this semi-barbaric word, trabaricator.