12:5a–c
haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent?: This is a rhetorical question. It expresses a rebuke. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they accused the disciples of breaking the Sabbath laws. The Pharisees had of course read the law. Jesus accused them of not applying some of the principles in the law.
Here are some other ways to translate this rebuke:
• As a rhetorical question. For example:
have you read ⌊in vain⌋ in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the day and yet are not guilty?
-or-
did you not understand ⌊anything⌋ when you read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?
• As a rhetorical question and a statement. For example:
have you not read in the law of Moses that on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day? But the priests are not wrong for doing that. (New Century Version)
• As a statement. For example:
surely you have read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent.
Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.
12:5a
Or: This word indicates that 12:5 is a second part of Jesus’ response. It is parallel to the first rhetorical question in 12:3–4.
Here are some other ways to introduce this second part:
Also
-or-
Again
-or-
Next
In this rhetorical question, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that one law requires the priests to offer sacrifices on the Sabbath. Another law prohibits work on the Sabbath. These two laws apparently conflict. However, everyone agreed that the law to offer sacrifices on the Sabbath was more important than the law not to work.
Jesus used a type of reasoning that Jewish teachers regularly used. They would not have been able to argue with his conclusion.
in the Law: This phrase refers to the law that Moses wrote. This law is in the first five books of the Old Testament. The Jews would know that the phrase the Law referred to the Law of Moses, but you may want to make it clear for your readers. For example:
in the Law of Moses (Good News Translation)
-or-
In ⌊God’s⌋ law ⌊that Moses wrote⌋
12:5b–c
on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath: This clause refers to two laws that apparently conflict. One of Moses’ laws prohibits people from working on the Sabbath. Another of Moses’ laws requires the priests to offer sacrifices on the Sabbath. Slaughtering an animal and offering it as a sacrifice was normally considered work. So by obeying one law, the priests were breaking another law. They were profaning, disrespecting, or breaking the Sabbath law.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
on every Sabbath day the priests in the Temple break this law about the Sabbath day (New Century Version)
-or-
on the Sabbath, ⌊when⌋ the priests ⌊work⌋ in the temple, ⌊they⌋ do not follow/obey the Sabbath law
-or-
on the Day of Rest, the priests ⌊offer sacrifices⌋ in the temple. ⌊So they⌋ do not rest on that day
temple: The word temple refers to the temple building and the walls and courtyards that surrounded it. The temple was in Jerusalem and was the most important place where Jews worshiped God.
Here are some other ways to translate the word temple:
• Use a descriptive phrase. For example:
house/building of God
-or-
place of sacrifice
-or-
house/place of worship
-or-
holy/sacred house
• If your language has a word for “temple,” consider using it. But you may need to modify it by saying:
temple of the Jews/Lord
Be sure to use a different term from the one you have chosen for “synagogue” (in 9:35b). There was only one temple, but there were many synagogues.
The word temple first occurs in 4:5b. See also the word temple, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.
break the Sabbath: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as break also means “defile” or “make unclean.” The Sabbath is a holy day, and doing work on that day makes the day unholy or unclean.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
• Keep the idea of profaning the Sabbath. For example:
desecrate the Sabbath (NET Bible)
-or-
defile/spoil the Sabbath
• Focus on the idea of breaking the Sabbath law. For example:
break the Sabbath law (Good News Translation)
-or-
do not follow/keep the law about not working on the Sabbath
12:5d
and yet are innocent: The word innocent means “not guilty” or “innocent” of a crime or sin. Even though the priests worked on the Sabbath by offering sacrifices, their actions were not wrong. They were doing what God had told them to do.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
not guilty (Good News Translation)
-or-
innocent (New International Version)
-or-
not wrong
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