The law of God gave the poor a right to a certain portion of the produce of the soil. When hungry, a man was at liberty to go to his neighbor's field or orchard or vineyard, and eat of the grain or fruit to satisfy his hunger. It was in accordance with this permission that the disciples of Jesus plucked and ate of the standing grain as they passed through a field upon the Sabbath day.

Guds lov gav de fattige ret til en vis del af jordens afgrøder. Når en mand var sulten, havde han lov til at gå ind på sin nabos mark eller ind i hans frugthave eller vingård og stille sulten. Det var denne tilladelse, Jesu disciple benyttede sig af, da de plukkede aks og spiste, mens de gik gennem en kornmark på en sabbat.