6 See the note on Pharisees in .
7 Note that the verb is second person plural (with an understood plural pronominal subject in Greek). The charge is again indirectly made against Jesus by charging the disciples.
8 The alleged violation expressed by the phrase what is against the law is performing work on the Sabbath. That the disciples ate from such a field is no problem given Deut 23:25, but Sabbath activity is another matter in the leaders’ view (Exod 20:8–11 and , m. Shabbat 7.2). The supposed violation involved reaping, threshing, winnowing, and preparing food. This probably explains why the clause describing the disciples “rubbing” the heads of grain in their hands is mentioned last, in emphatic position. This was preparation of food.

In other versions

But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

But some Pharisees said, “Why are you breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath?

And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

Public Domain