7If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.


In Context

4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.

5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent?

6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

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

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

9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,

Matthew 12:7 in Other Translations

The King James Version of the Holy Bible

12:7But if ye had known what [this] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Douay-Rheims Version of the Holy Bible

12:7And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent.

The American Standard Version of the Holy Bible

12:7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Darby Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

12:7But if ye had known what is: I will have mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The English Revised Version of the Holy Bible

12:7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Webster Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

12:7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The World English Bible Translation of the Holy Bible

12:7But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Young's Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

12:7and if ye had known what is: Kindness I will, and not sacrifice — ye had not condemned the blameless,

The American King James Version of the Holy Bible

12:7But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.