Luke 10:42

Luke 10:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
• New International Version (NIV)but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Context of Luke 10:42

40But Martha was thinking to herself, ‘I cannot do all this work alone.’ So she went to Jesus. She said, ‘Master, my sister is not helping me with the work. She has left me to do it alone. You surely do not think that this is right! Tell her that she should help me!’ 41The Lord Jesus replied, ‘Martha, Martha, you have troubles in your mind about many things. But only one thing is really important. That is what Mary has chosen to do. Nobody will take it away from her.’

Luke 10:42 word by word

ἑνὸς δέ ἐστιν χρεία· Μαριὰμ γὰρ τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα ἐξελέξατο ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται αὐτῆς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• one thingεἷςheis · oneG1520
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• needfulχρείαchreia · needG5532
• MaryΜαρίαMaria Mariam · MaryG3137
• hath chosenἐκλέγωeklegomai · to selectG1586
• thatμερίςmeris · partG3310
• goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• shallἀφαιρέωaphaireō · to removeG851
• notοὐou · noG3756
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• herαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Luke 10:42

• Luke 18:22Jesus heard what he said and he replied, ‘There is still just one thing that you must do. You must sell everything that you have. Then give the money to poor people. If you do that, you will have many valuable things in heaven. Then come back and be my disciple.’
• Psalms 27:4There is one thing that I have asked the Lord to do for me. This is the one thing that I really want: I want to live in the Lord's house all the days of my life. Then I will clearly see the Lord's beauty. I will pray to him in his temple.
• Psalms 73:25You are the only one in heaven or on earth that I need to help me. You are the only one that I want.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13Now I have heard everything and this is what I have decided: Respect God and obey his commands. That is God's purpose for all people.
• Mark 8:36A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him.
• John 17:3What does it mean for people to live with you for ever? It means that they know you, the one who is the only true God. They also know me, Jesus Christ, the one that you have sent.
• 1 Corinthians 13:3I may give all my things to help poor people. I may let other people take my body to burn it. But that would not help me if I do not love others.
• Galatians 5:6We belong to Christ Jesus. So it does not matter whether anyone has circumcised us or not. The only thing that matters is that we believe in Christ. As a result we will love others in the way that we live.
• Colossians 2:10And because you are united with Christ, you are now complete. He is the one who rules over everything that has power or authority.
• 1 John 5:11This is what God has told us: God has given us life with him that never ends. We receive this life when we believe in his Son, Jesus.
• Deuteronomy 30:19Today, I want the sky and the earth to hear what I have said to you. I have told you what you may choose. You may choose life or death. You may choose the Lord to bless you or to curse you. Choose life today, so that you and your descendants will live!
• Joshua 24:15But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then you should choose another god to worship. Decide today! Will you serve the gods that your ancestors worshipped across the river? Will you serve the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living? You choose! But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.’
• Psalms 17:15As for me, Lord, I am not guilty of sin. So I will see your face. When I wake up, I will see you clearly, and I will be really happy!
• Psalms 119:30I have chosen to live in the right way. I will continue to obey your rules.
• Psalms 16:5You, Lord, are all that I need. What you give to me is enough, for me and for my descendants.
• Psalms 142:5Yes Lord, I am calling to you to help me. You are my safe place where I can hide. You are all that I need in this world where I live.

Commentaries on Luke 10:42

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42One thing is needful - This is the end of the sentence, according to Bengel. "Now Mary hath chosen, etc.," begins a new one. One single dish, the simplest and plainest possible, is such as best suits me and my disciples, whose meat and drink it is to do the will of our heavenly Father. Mary hath chosen that good part - That is, of hearing my word, of which she shall not be deprived; it being at present of infinitely greater importance to attend to my…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42But one thing is needful - That is, religion, or piety. This is eminently and especially needful. Other things are of little importance. This should be secured first, and then all other things will be added. See 1 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 6:33. That good part - The portion of the gospel; the love of God, and an interest in his kingdom. She had chosen to be a Christian, and to give up her time and affections to God. Which shall not be taken away - God will not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 38-42Verses 38-42 A good sermon is not the worse for being preached in a house; and the visits of our friends should be so managed, as to make them turn to the good of their souls. Sitting at Christ's feet, signifies readiness to receive his word, and submission to the guidance of it. Martha was providing for the entertainment of Christ, and those that came with him. Here were respect to our Lord Jesus and right care of her household affairs. But there was…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 42only one thing is necessary: Mary has discovered it. The words of Jesus were surprising. Women were expected to serve in the home, and they were not allowed to learn from a rabbi as disciples. Jesus affirmed Mary’s desire to be his disciple.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4242. one thing, &c.--The idea of "Short work and little of it suffices for Me" is not so much the lower sense of these weighty words, as supposed in them, as the basis of something far loftier than any precept on economy. Underneath that idea is couched another, as to the littleness both of elaborate preparation for the present life and of that life itself, compared with another. chosen the good part--not in the general sense of Moses' choice (He 11:25)…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 10:42

• Desire
• Faith
• Friendship
• Jesus, the Christ
• Martha
• Mary
• Perseverance
• Spirituality
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Careful
• Chance
• Fall
• Hire
• Mercy
• Trouble
• Choose; Chosen
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to

Commentaries on Luke 10

• 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