Passage

Matthew 9.13

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners? 12. But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick."

"13. But go ye and learn what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."

"14. Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast." (Matthew 9:11-15, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"11. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12. When Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do."

"13. But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”"

"14. Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?” 15. Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast." (Matthew 9:11-15, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."

"13. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

"14. Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast." (Matthew 9:11-15, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"11. and the Pharisees having seen, said to his disciples, 'Wherefore with the tax-gatherers and sinners doth your teacher eat?' 12. And Jesus having heard, said to them, 'They who are whole have no need of a physician, but they who are ill;"

"13. but having gone, learn ye what is, Kindness I will, and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call righteous men, but sinners, to reformation.'"

"14. Then come to him do the disciples of John, saying, 'Wherefore do we and the Pharisees fast much, and thy disciples fast not?' 15. And Jesus said to them, 'Can the sons of the bride-chamber mourn, so long as the bridegroom is with them? but days shall come when the bridegroom may be taken from them, and then they shall fast." (Matthew 9:11-15, YLT)

Setting

• Speaker: Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
• Audience: Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
• Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
• Time period: events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

Theological reading

Key words

• G1342 - dikaios, dikaios (Strong's G1342). Also appears in: Matthew 1, Matthew 23, Matthew 25.46.
• G1656 - eleos, eleos (Strong's G1656). Also appears in: Matthew 23, Romans 9.1-29, Romans 11.
• G3341 - metanoia, metanoia (Strong's G3341). Also appears in: Mark 1.4, Mark 2.17, Luke 5.32.

Quoted in

• 1 John 1.8-10
• 1 John 1.9
• 1 John 2.1
• 1 John 3.7
• 1 Peter 1.3
• 1 Peter 3.18-19
• Acts 11
• Acts 19.4
• Acts 3.13-16
• Colossians 4.1
• Ephesians 6
• G1656 - eleos
• G3004 - lego
• G5218 - hypakoe
• H2617 - hesed
• Hebrews 12.22-24
• Hebrews 4.15-16
• Hebrews 4.16
• Hebrews 6.4-6
• Hosea 6.6
• John 5
• John 5.30
• John 7.53-8
• Jude 1
• Luke 1.6
• Luke 15.7
• Luke 24.46-47
• Luke 5.32
• Mark 1.4
• Mark 2.17
• Mark 6
• Matthew 1
• Matthew 27.22-25
• Matthew the Apostle
• OT vs NT God Objection
• Philippians 1.7
• Philippians 4.8
• Romans 3.10
• Romans 3.10-12
• Romans 3.10-18
• Romans 7
• Titus 1.4
• Titus 1.6-9
• Titus 3.5

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

• ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
• WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
• KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
• YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.