Matthew 12:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

    But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • KJV1611 – Modern English

    But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent.

  • King James Version 1611 (Original)

    But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} if{G1487} ye had known{G1097} what{G5101} this meaneth,{G2076} I desire{G2309} mercy,{G1656} and{G2532} not{G3756} sacrifice,{G2378} ye{G2613} would{G302} not{G3756} have condemned{G2613} the guiltless.{G338}

  • King James Version with Strong's Numbers

    But{G1161} if{G1487} ye had known{G1097}{(G5715)} what{G5101} this meaneth{G2076}{(G5748)}, I will have{G2309}{(G5719)} mercy{G1656}, and{G2532} not{G3756} sacrifice{G2378}, ye would{G302} not{G3756} have condemned{G2613}{(G5656)} the guiltless{G338}.

  • Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

    Wherfore yf ye had wist what this sayinge meneth: I require mercy and not sacrifice: ye wold never have condened innocetes.

  • Coverdale Bible (1535)

    But yf ye wyst what this were (I haue pleasure in mercy, and not in offeringe) ye wolde not haue condemned innocentes:

  • Geneva Bible (1560)

    Wherefore if ye knewe what this is, I will haue mercie, and not sacrifice, ye would not haue condemned the innocents.

  • Bishops' Bible (1568)

    Wherfore if ye wist what this meaneth, I will mercie & not sacrifice: ye woulde not haue condempned the giltlesse.

  • Authorized King James Version (1611)

    ‹But if ye had known what› [this] ‹meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.›

  • Webster's Bible (1833)

    But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

    and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice -- ye had not condemned the blameless,

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • American Standard Version (1901)

    But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • Bible in Basic English (1941)

    But 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.

  • World English Bible (2000)

    But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

  • NET Bible® (New English Translation)

    If you had known what this means:‘I want mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

Referenced Verses

  • Matt 9:13 : 13 'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'
  • Hos 6:6 : 6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
  • Mic 6:6-8 : 6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand streams of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
  • Matt 22:29 : 29 Jesus answered them, 'You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
  • Acts 13:27 : 27 The people living in Jerusalem and their rulers, not recognizing Him or the words of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him.
  • Jas 5:6 : 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, who does not resist you.
  • Job 32:3 : 3 Elihu was also angry with Job's three friends because they had found no answer and yet they had condemned Job.
  • Ps 94:21 : 21 They band together against the life of the righteous and condemn innocent blood.
  • Ps 109:31 : 31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy to save them from those who would condemn their souls.
  • Prov 17:15 : 15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the Lord.
  • Isa 1:11-17 : 11 "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?" says the LORD. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed animals; I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. 12 When you come to appear before Me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of My courts? 13 Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity combined with solemn assembly. 14 Your New Moons and appointed festivals My soul hates. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you. Even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Remove your evil deeds from My sight; stop doing evil. 17 Learn to do what is good; seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Matt 9:12-13
    2 verses
    79%

    12 But when Jesus heard this, he said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'

    13 'Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'

  • Matt 12:5-6
    2 verses
    76%

    5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath, the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?

    6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

  • Hos 6:6
    75%

    6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

  • Matt 12:8
    73%

    8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

  • Luke 19:42
    72%

    42 He said, 'If you had known on this day, even you, the things that would bring you peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'

  • Matt 12:10-12
    3 verses
    72%

    10 And a man with a withered hand was there. They asked Jesus, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?' so that they might accuse Him.

    11 He said to them, 'Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

    12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.'

  • Matt 15:5-7
    3 verses
    71%

    5 But you say that if anyone declares to their father or mother, ‘What you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’

    6 they are not to honor their father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

    7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, saying,

  • Luke 6:36-37
    2 verses
    71%

    36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

    37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

  • Matt 7:1
    71%

    1 Do not judge, so that you will not be judged.

  • Matt 18:33
    70%

    33 'Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?'

  • Mark 7:11-13
    3 verses
    70%

    11 But you say, 'If anyone says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you might have received from me is Corban"' (that is, devoted to God),

    12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother.

    13 You nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."

  • Jas 5:6
    70%

    6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, who does not resist you.

  • Acts 13:27
    70%

    27 The people living in Jerusalem and their rulers, not recognizing Him or the words of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning Him.

  • Luke 12:56-57
    2 verses
    70%

    56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky and the earth, but why do you not know how to interpret this present time?

    57 And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?

  • Matt 27:4
    70%

    4 He said, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' But they replied, 'What is that to us? You take care of it.'

  • Matt 12:2-3
    2 verses
    70%

    2 But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, 'Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.'

    3 He said to them, 'Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?

  • Mark 11:17
    69%

    17 As he was teaching them, he said, 'Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.'

  • Matt 12:17
    69%

    17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

  • Matt 12:37
    69%

    37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

  • Mark 3:4
    69%

    4 Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?" But they remained silent.

  • Matt 11:22
    69%

    22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

  • Heb 10:8
    69%

    8 After saying above that sacrifices, offerings, whole burnt offerings, and offerings for sins You did not desire nor were pleased with—which are offered according to the law—

  • Jas 2:13
    69%

    13 For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

  • Luke 10:14
    69%

    14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

  • Heb 10:5-6
    2 verses
    69%

    5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You prepared a body for Me.

    6 You were not pleased with whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.

  • Luke 6:9
    69%

    9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to destroy it?"

  • Matt 7:12
    69%

    12 So in everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

  • Luke 16:15
    69%

    15 Jesus said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight."

  • John 7:24
    68%

    24 Do not judge by appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

  • Matt 12:31
    68%

    31 Therefore, I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

  • Matt 23:25
    68%

    25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

  • Matt 5:7
    68%

    7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

  • Matt 11:24
    68%

    24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.

  • Matt 23:30
    68%

    30 and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'

  • Luke 11:39
    68%

    39 Then the Lord said to him, 'Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

  • Matt 6:15
    68%

    15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

  • Mark 12:10
    68%

    10 Have you not read this Scripture: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'?

  • Ps 40:6
    67%

    6 You, LORD my God, have done many wonderful works, and Your plans are beyond comparison. If I tried to declare and speak of them, they are too numerous to count.