On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The disciples weren't just casually snacking; they were likely in a desperate state of hunger, an act permissible by law (Deuteronomy 23:25) but made contentious by the Pharisees' strict interpretations of the Sabbath. This seemingly simple act of plucking grain immediately highlights the disciples' need and Jesus' willingness to prioritize basic human necessity over rigid religious rules.
On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his disciples are traveling through grainfields on a Sabbath day. Hungry, the disciples begin to pluck and eat heads of grain, a practice permitted by Jewish law but questioned by religious authorities. This incident sets the stage for Jesus' defense of his disciples, which leads to a broader discussion about the purpose and proper observance of the Sabbath.
Ever been confused by a date or a specific historical marker? Luke gives us a precise time for this event, but it’s famously tricky! Let's untangle it.
The phrase "on the second Sabbath after the first" (or "second-first Sabbath" in some translations) is one of the most debated phrases in the Gospels. While scholars wrestle with its exact meaning, the most common and well-supported interpretation points to the first Sabbath after the second day of the Passover festival.
Why the Confusion?
What We Know
Regardless of the exact nuance, the general consensus is that this occurred in the spring, during harvest season, after Passover but before Pentecost. The disciples were likely traveling from Jerusalem back towards Galilee after celebrating the Passover.
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The disciples were hungry, the grain was ripe. What seems like a simple act of survival quickly turns into a major theological discussion. What was really going on?
The core of this incident isn't just about disciples being hungry; it's about Jesus confronting a rigid, man-made interpretation of God's law.
The Disciples' Action:
Jesus' Response:
Understand the original words
Shabbath · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the week, set apart by God at creation and commanded in the Decalogue as a day of rest, cessation from labor, and worship. It signifies the covenant relationship between God and His people.
mathetes · Greek Noun
The twelve men chosen by Jesus to be His primary followers, witnesses, and messengers. The term signifies a 'sent one' or one commissioned with the authority of the one who sent them.
The specific timing of this event, debated as the 'second-first Sabbath,' highlights the meticulous way Luke anchors Jesus' ministry within the Jewish calendar, emphasizing its deep roots in tradition even as Jesus challenged its rigid interpretations.
c. March/April
Passover Feast in Jerusalem
Jesus and his disciples observed the Passover, a pivotal Jewish festival commemorating the exodus from Egypt, likely in Jerusalem. This event marks the start of the ecclesiastical year for the Jews.
c. March/April
Barley Harvest Begins
The barley harvest commences around the time of Passover. The disciples plucked and ate ears of grain from fields that were ripe for harvest.
The Sabbath following the Passover week— this verse
The 'Second-First' Sabbath
This specific Sabbath, known by the debated term 'second-first Sabbath,' falls within the period between Passover and Pentecost. It's a time when wheat would also begin to ripen, especially in warmer regions like Galilee.
c. May/June
Pentecost (Feast of Weeks)
Pentecost, celebrated fifty days after Passover, marks the completion of the wheat harvest. The timing of the grain-plucking incident suggests it occurred before this major festival.
This passage describes the same event from Matthew's perspective, highlighting the disciples' hunger and the Pharisees' immediate accusation of breaking the Sabbath.
Mark 2:23Mark's account of this incident further emphasizes that it was a Sabbath day and focuses on the disciples 'making their way' by plucking grain, underscoring the necessity of their actions.
Deuteronomy 23:25This Old Testament law explicitly permitted passersby to pluck and eat grain from a neighbor's field, providing the legal justification for Jesus' disciples' actions.
1 Samuel 21:1-6Jesus directly refers to David's actions in this passage, where David and his men ate the consecrated bread when they were hungry, drawing a parallel between David's perceived violation and his disciples' current need.
Luke 13:15Jesus confronts the synagogue ruler about his concern for his ox being led to water on the Sabbath, contrasting it with his disciples' urgent need for food, powerfully illustrating his point about mercy over rigid observance.
barnesLuke 6:1: "And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands."
Second sabbath after the first - See the notes at Matthew 12:1 . This phrase has given great perplexity to commentators. A "literal" translation would be, "on the Sabbath called "second first,"" or second first Sabbath. The word occurs nowhere else. It is therefore exceedingly difficult of interpretatio…
clarkeLuke 6:1: "And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands."
On the second Sabbath after the first - Εν σαββατῳ δευτεροπρωτῳ, In the first Sabbath after the second. What does this mean? In answering this question, commentators are greatly divided. Dr. Whitby speaks thus: "After the first day of the passover, (which was a Sabbath, Exodus 12:16 ), ye shall count…
The disciples weren't just casually snacking; they were likely in a desperate state of hunger, an act permissible by law (Deuteronomy 23:25) but made contentious by the Pharisees' strict interpretations of the Sabbath. This seemingly simple act of plucking grain immediately highlights the disciples' need and Jesus' willingness to prioritize basic human necessity over rigid religious rules.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling through grainfields on a Sabbath day. Hungry, the disciples begin to pluck and eat heads of grain, a practice permitted by Jewish law but questioned by religious authorities. This incident sets the stage for Jesus' defense of his disciples, which leads to a broader discussion about the purpose and proper observance of the Sabbath.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling through grainfields on a Sabbath day. Hungry, the disciples begin to pluck and eat heads of grain, a practice permitted by Jewish law but questioned by religious authorities. This incident sets the stage for Jesus' defense of his disciples, which leads to a broader discussion about the purpose and proper observance of the Sabbath.
"On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands." — The disciples weren't just casually snacking; they were likely in a desperate state of hunger, an act permissible by law (Deuteronomy 23:25) but made contentious by the Pharisees' strict interpretati…
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Last reviewed October 2026