English Standard Version
Mark 10:18
18And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Mark 10:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
- New International Version (NIV)“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.
Context of Mark 10:18
16And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. 17And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth."
Read all of Mark 10Mark 10:18 word by word
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν; οὐδεὶς ἀγαθὸς εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- goodἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
- noneοὐδείςoudeis · noneG3762
- butεἰei · if: notG1487
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Mark 10:18
- Matthew 19:17And he said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
- Luke 18:19And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
- John 5:41I do not receive glory from people.
- Romans 3:12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
- 1 Samuel 2:2"There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
- Psalms 36:7How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
- Psalms 86:5For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
- Psalms 119:68You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
- James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
- 1 John 4:8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Commentaries on Mark 10:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-31Verses 17-31 See this passage illustrated in the notes at Matthew 19:16-30. Mark 10:17 Gone forth - From the place where he had been teaching. Into the way - Into the road or path on his journey. Running - Thus showing the intensity with which he desired to know the way of life. Zeal to know the way to be saved is proper, nor is it possible that it should be too intense if well directed. Nothing else is so important, and nothing demands, therefore, so…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-22Verses 17-22 This young ruler showed great earnestness. He asked what he should do now, that he might be happy for ever. Most ask for good to be had in this world; any good, Psa 4:6; he asks for good to be done in this world, in order to enjoy the greatest good in the other world. Christ encouraged this address by assisting his faith, and by directing his practice. But here is a sorrowful parting between Jesus and this young man. He asks Christ what he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Jesus replied. "No one is good except God alone.": This response has troubled interpreters for centuries. Jesus was likely correcting the man’s casual use of the word good for a human being. Perfect goodness belongs to God alone. Jesus was not denying his own goodness. Instead, he wanted to direct the man’s attention to God. The rich man wanted to enter the kingdom of God, and Jesus contrasted God’s goodness with the man’s own sinfulness.Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 10:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries