Matthew 12:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Why it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
American King James Version (AKJV)
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Why it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
American Standard Version (ASV)
How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! For this reason it is right to do good on the Sabbath day.
Webster's Revision
How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
World English Bible
Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day."
English Revised Version (ERV)
How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.
Definitions for Matthew 12:12
Clarke's Matthew 12:12 Bible Commentary
How much then is a man better than a sheep? - Our Lord's argument is what is called argumentum ad hominem; they are taken on their own ground, and confuted on their own maxims and conduct. There are many persons who call themselves Christians, who do more for a beast of burden or pleasure than they do for a man for whom Christ died! Many spend that on coursers, spaniels, and hounds, of which multitudes of the followers of Christ are destitute: - but this also shall come to judgment.
Wherefore, it is lawful to do well, etc. - This was allowed by a multitude of Jewish canons. See Schoettgen.
Barnes's Matthew 12:12 Bible Commentary
How much, then, is a man better than a sheep? - Of more consequence or value.
If you would show an act of kindness to a brute beast on the Sabbath, how much more important is it to evince similar kindness to one made in the image of God!
It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days - This was universally allowed by the Jews in the abstract; and Jesus only showed them that the principle on which they acted in other things applied with more force to the case before him, and that the act which he was about to perform was, by their own confession, lawful.
Wesley's Matthew 12:12 Bible Commentary
12:12 It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day - To save a beast, much more a man.