King James Version

What Does Luke 10:41 Mean?

Luke 10:41 in the King James Version says “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:” — study this verse from Luke chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:”

Luke 10:41 · KJV

Context

39

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jesus responds to Martha: 'Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' The repeated 'Martha, Martha' shows affectionate concern. Jesus doesn't condemn her service but her anxiety—'careful and troubled' (Greek 'merimnās kai thorybazē,' μεριμνᾷς καὶ θορυβάζῃ, anxious and troubled) about 'many things.' He contrasts this with 'one thing needful'—hearing His word, relationship with Him. Mary 'hath chosen that good part' (literally 'the good portion')—she prioritized what matters most. Jesus defends contemplation over busyness, relationship over activity.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This occurred at Martha and Mary's home in Bethany. Martha's hospitality for Jesus and disciples involved extensive meal preparation. Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to His teaching (v. 39)—unusual for women in first-century Palestine, where women typically served while men taught and learned. Martha's complaint that Mary wasn't helping and her request for Jesus to tell Mary to help (v. 40) revealed her priorities—practical service over spiritual learning. Jesus' response validated Mary's choice and corrected Martha's skewed priorities. The church throughout history has struggled with this tension—activism versus contemplation, doing versus being. Jesus prioritizes relationship with Him over service for Him.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus' response correct the tendency to prioritize busyness and service over relationship and learning from Him?
  2. What does Mary's choice of 'the good part' teach about the relative importance of contemplation versus activity in discipleship?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 13 words
ἀποκριθεὶς1 of 13

“answered”

G611

to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)

δὲ2 of 13

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

εἶπεν3 of 13

“and said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

αὐτῇ4 of 13

“unto her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ὁ5 of 13
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦς,6 of 13

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

Μάρθα7 of 13

“Martha”

G3136

martha, a christian woman

Μάρθα8 of 13

“Martha”

G3136

martha, a christian woman

μεριμνᾷς9 of 13

“thou art careful”

G3309

to be anxious about

καὶ10 of 13

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τυρβάζῃ11 of 13

“troubled”

G5182

to make "turbid", i.e., disturb

περὶ12 of 13

“about”

G4012

properly, through (all over), i.e., around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive cas

πολλά13 of 13

“many things”

G4183

(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 10:41 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 10:41 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Philippians 4:6Mark 4:19Luke 21:34Matthew 6:25-34Luke 8:14Luke 12:22

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