12:2a

This verse introduces a conflict that the Pharisees had with the disciples who plucked and ate grain on the Sabbath. If you have a word or phrase that introduces a conflict of this type in your language, you should use it here. One way to do this in English is to use the word “But.”

Here is another way to introduce this conflict:

However

In some languages it is not necessary to add a special word or phrase to introduce a conflict in a historical event such as this.

When the Pharisees saw this: Some, but not all, of the Pharisees were there and saw what the disciples did. In some languages, it will be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

Some Pharisees noticed this (Contemporary English Version)
-or-

⌊Some⌋ men of the Pharisee group ⌊were there and⌋ saw what the disciples were doing

Pharisees: For help in translating this word, see the note in 9:11a.

12:2b

Look: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Look is the same word that is sometimes translated as “Behold.” This word focuses attention on what follows and indicates that it is important, unexpected, or amazing. In this context, the Pharisees are amazed and surprised that the disciples picked grain on the Sabbath.

Here, this word is also used in a somewhat literal sense, because the Pharisees want Jesus to notice what the disciples are doing.

Here are some examples:

See!
-or-
Look here!

In some languages, it is natural to begin this sentence with a term of respect. For example:

⌊Teacher/Sir,⌋ Do you see what they are doing?

Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath: The Pharisees criticized the disciples for breaking the law which says that people must not work on the Sabbath. The Pharisees believed that even picking a small handful of grain for a snack was harvesting and therefore work. They also believed that rubbing that small amount of grain and blowing away the husk was threshing and therefore work as well.

According to Deuteronomy 23:25, people were allowed to pick and eat a little grain for a snack. It was not stealing. The Pharisees said that what the disciples did was wrong because they were doing it on the Sabbath.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

• Explain what was unlawful in the text. For example:

Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that! (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Look! Your disciples are breaking the law ⌊about working⌋ on the Sabbath

• Explain what was unlawful in a footnote. Here is a sample footnote:

God allowed people to pick and eat a handful of grain from other people’s fields (Deuteronomy 23:25). But the Pharisees said that such picking was work and therefore not allowed on the Sabbath.

General Comment on 12:2b

In some languages, it may be natural to translate 12:2b as indirect speech. For example:

that his disciples were doing what was not allowed in the Sabbath

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