Matthew 12:7

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

Additional Resources

Other Translations

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.
  • Hos 6:6 : 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
  • Mic 6:6-8 : 6 With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give 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, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
  • Matt 22:29 : 29 Jesus answered and said to them, You err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.
  • Acts 13:27 : 27 For those who dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, have fulfilled them in condemning him.
  • Jas 5:6 : 6 You have condemned and killed the righteous; and he does not resist you.
  • Job 32:3 : 3 Also his wrath was kindled against his three friends, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
  • Ps 94:21 : 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.
  • Ps 109:31 : 31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn his soul.
  • Prov 17:15 : 15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
  • Isa 1:11-17 : 11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me? says the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals; and I delight not in the blood of oxen, or of lambs, or of goats. 12 When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? 13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot endure; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble to me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: indeed, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for 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 that, he said to them, Those who are whole do not need a physician, but those who are sick.

    13 But go and learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

  • Matt 12:5-6
    2 verses
    76%

    5 Or have you not read in the law, how on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?

    6 But I say to you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.

  • Hos 6:6
    75%

    6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

  • Matt 12:8
    73%

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

  • Luke 19:42
    72%

    42 Saying, If you had known, even you, at least in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

  • Matt 12:10-12
    3 verses
    72%

    10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

    11 And he said to them, What man among you, who has one sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, will not lay hold of it, and lift it out?

    12 How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep? Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath days.

  • Matt 15:5-7
    3 verses
    71%

    5 But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me;

    6 And does not honor his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

    7 You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,

  • Luke 6:36-37
    2 verses
    71%

    36 Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

    37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven:

  • Matt 7:1
    71%

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

  • Matt 18:33
    70%

    33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?

  • Mark 7:11-13
    3 verses
    70%

    11 But you say, If a man says to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is, a gift to God, by which you might have been benefited by me; he shall be free.

    12 And you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,

    13 Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have handed down; and you do many similar things.

  • Jas 5:6
    70%

    6 You have condemned and killed the righteous; and he does not resist you.

  • Acts 13:27
    70%

    27 For those who dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, have fulfilled them in condemning him.

  • Luke 12:56-57
    2 verses
    70%

    56 You hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky and the earth; but how is it that you do not discern this time?

    57 Yes, and why even of yourselves do you not judge what is right?

  • Matt 27:4
    70%

    4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See to that yourself.

  • Matt 12:2-3
    2 verses
    70%

    2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Look, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day.

    3 But he said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him;

  • Mark 11:17
    69%

    17 And he taught, saying to them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but you have made it a den of thieves.

  • Matt 12:17
    69%

    17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

  • Matt 12:37
    69%

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

  • Mark 3:4
    69%

    4 And he said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they remained silent.

  • Matt 11:22
    69%

    22 But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.

  • Heb 10:8
    69%

    8 Previously saying, Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor had pleasure in them (which are offered according to the law),

  • Jas 2:13
    69%

    13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

  • Luke 10:14
    69%

    14 But it shall be more tolerable 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 a body you have prepared for me:

    6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure.

  • Luke 6:9
    69%

    9 Then said Jesus to them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

  • Matt 7:12
    69%

    12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do to you, do also to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets.

  • Luke 16:15
    69%

    15 And he said to them, You are the ones who justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for what is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

  • John 7:24
    68%

    24 Judge not according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.

  • Matt 12:31
    68%

    31 Therefore I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.

  • Matt 23:25
    68%

    25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.

  • Matt 5:7
    68%

    7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

  • Matt 11:24
    68%

    24 But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.

  • Matt 23:30
    68%

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

  • Luke 11:39
    68%

    39 And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.

  • Matt 6:15
    68%

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

  • Mark 12:10
    68%

    10 Have you not read this scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone:

  • Ps 40:6
    67%

    6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened: burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.