Mark 2:23 Meaning and Explanation
“And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On the Sabbath, Jesus' disciples pluck heads of grain as they walk through the fields.
What Does Mark 2:23 Mean?
On a Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples pass through fields of standing grain. As they walk, the disciples pluck some heads of grain to eat—a practice the law of Moses allowed a traveler to do from a neighbor's field. The simple act, harmless in itself, takes place on the day of rest.
The scene is ordinary, but the day makes it a flashpoint. The Sabbath was meant as a gift of rest and a sign of the covenant, yet layers of human rule had grown around it. The disciples, satisfying a basic hunger, are about to become the occasion for a deeper teaching. Even a walk through a grainfield can open onto the question of what God's holy day was truly given for.
Mark 2:23 in the Original Language
sabbaton (σάββατον), 'sabbath' -- the appointed day of rest, from a root meaning to cease.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 2:23
What does Mark 2:23 mean?
On the Sabbath, Jesus' disciples pluck heads of grain as they walk through the fields.