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 upset about all the work she had to do. So she asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to help me.” 41The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. There’s only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken 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 18:22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need one thing. Sell everything you have. Distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”
• Psalms 27:4I have asked one thing from the Lord. This I will seek: to remain in the Lord’s house all the days of my life in order to gaze at the Lord’s beauty and to search for an answer in his temple.
• Psalms 73:25As long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else in heaven or on earth.
• Ecclesiastes 12:13After having heard it all, this is the conclusion: Fear God, and keep his commands, because this applies to everyone.
• Mark 8:36What good does it do for people to win the whole world yet lose their lives?
• John 17:3This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.
• 1 Corinthians 13:3I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.
• Galatians 5:6As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.
• Colossians 2:10and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
• 1 John 5:11This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is found in his Son.
• Deuteronomy 30:19I call on heaven and earth as witnesses today that I have offered you life or death, blessings or curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants will live.
• Joshua 24:15But if you don’t want to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Even if you choose the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live, my family and I will still serve the Lord.”
• Psalms 17:15I will see your face when I am declared innocent. When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌞with seeing⌟ you.
• Psalms 119:30I have chosen a life of faithfulness. I have set your regulations in front of me.
• Psalms 16:5The Lord is my inheritance and my cup. You are the one who determines my destiny.
• Psalms 142:5I call out to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my refuge, my own inheritance in this world of the living.”

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