Amplified Bible
Luke 17:10
10So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’ ”
Luke 17:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
- New International Version (NIV)So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
- New King James Version (NKJV)So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
Context of Luke 17:10
8Will he not instead say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and appropriately clothe yourself [for service] and serve me while I eat and drink; then afterward you may eat and drink?’ 9He does not thank the servant just because he did what he was ordered to do, does he? So you too, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants [undeserving of praise or a reward, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have merely done what we ought to do.’ ” 11While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee. 12As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance;
Read all of Luke 17Luke 17:10 word by word
οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὅταν ποιήσητε πάντα τὰ διαταχθέντα ὑμῖν, λέγετε ὅτι δοῦλοι ἀχρεῖοί ἐσμεν· ὃ ὠφείλομεν ποιῆσαι πεποιήκαμεν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- likewiseκαίkai · andG2532
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- ye shall have doneποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- those things whichὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- are commandedδιατάσσωdiatassō · to directG1299
- sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- We areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- unprofitableἀχρεῖοςachreios · worthlessG888
- servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- that whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- was our dutyὀφείλωopheilō opheileō · to oweG3784
Cross-references for Luke 17:10
- 1 Chronicles 29:14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
- Job 22:2“Can a vigorous man be of use to God, Or a wise man be useful to himself?
- Job 35:6If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what have you done to Him?
- Psalms 16:2I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”
- Psalms 35:6Let their way be dark and slippery, With the angel of the Lord pursuing and harassing them.
- Proverbs 16:2All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions], But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].
- Isaiah 6:5Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am ruined, Because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
- Isaiah 64:6For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction].
- Matthew 25:30And throw out the worthless servant into the outer darkness; in that place [of grief and torment] there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].
- Romans 3:12All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, no, not one.”
- Romans 11:35Or who has first given to Him that it would be paid back to him?
- 1 Corinthians 9:16For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]!
- 1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I [at one time] fiercely oppressed and violently persecuted the church of God.
- Philippians 3:8But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,
- Philemon 1:11Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.
- 1 Peter 5:5Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble.
Commentaries on Luke 17:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10We are unprofitable servants - This text has often been produced to prove that no man can live without committing sin against God. But let it be observed, the text says unprofitable servants, not sinful servants. If this text could be fairly construed to countenance sinful imperfection, it would be easy to demonstrate that there is not one of the spirits of just men made perfect, in paradise, nor a ministering angel at the throne of God, but is sinfully…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10Are unprofitable servants - We have conferred no favor. We have “merited” nothing. We have not “benefited” God, or laid him under “obligation.” If he rewards us, it will be matter of unmerited favor. This is true in relation to Christians in the following respects: 1.Our services are not “profitable” to God Job 22:2; he “needs” not our aid, and his essential happiness will not be increased by our efforts. 2.The grace to do his will comes from him only…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10In Greco-Roman culture, servants were expected to serve their masters faithfully. Faith (17:5–6) includes obeying Christ and submitting to his commands.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-107-10. say unto him by and by--The "by and by" (or rather "directly") should be joined not to the saying but the going: "Go directly." The connection here is: "But when your faith has been so increased as both to avoid and forgive offenses, and do things impossible to all but faith, be not puffed up as though you had laid the Lord under any obligations to you."Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 17:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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