Bible Strands
Mark 3:2
In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus stands in a synagogue before a man with a withered hand while religious opponents monitor His actions. They watch closely to determine whether He will perform a healing on the Sabbath.
The words — The Greek verb παρετήρουν (paretēroun) literally means "they were watching closely." It is linked to the conditional particle εἰ (ei), meaning "whether," to frame their specific expectation.
The thread — This hostile surveillance appears in Luke 6:7 and Luke 14:1, where opponents watch for grounds to accuse Jesus. The broader pattern of the wicked lying in wait for the righteous aligns with Psalm 37:32.
Why it lands — The text states that the opponents were actively monitoring Jesus to trap Him into breaking Sabbath regulations. A reader must acknowledge that the narrative presents compassion as the direct target of calculated legalism.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Cross-references
- Psalms 37:32 Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
- Luke 6:7 Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.
- Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely.
- Luke 20:20 So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
- Daniel 6:4 Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
- Luke 11:53 As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,
- Isaiah 29:20 For the ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who look for evil will be cut down—
- Jeremiah 20:10 For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
- Matthew 12:10 and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
- John 9:16 Because of this, some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for He does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” And there was division among them.