Devine Scripture

Luke 10:26

What does Luke 10:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 10:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 10:26 means

Jesus answers the lawyer with a question: 'What is written in the law? How do you read it?' He redirects the query to the lawyer’s own expertise and invites him to articulate the law’s core. Jesus’ method exposes the hearer’s understanding and responsibility. By asking him to interpret, Jesus emphasizes that true obedience flows from rightly understanding Scripture, not from mere external compliance. The question also tests the sincerity of the lawyer’s request and prepares for a self-authenticating answer from the lawyer himself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said to him, What does the law say, in your reading of it?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he said unto him, `In the law what hath been written? how dost thou read?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said to him: What is written in the law? How readest thou?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Context

Jesus’ reply follows the lawyer’s inquiry and models a teacher’s tactic: ask the student to state what the law requires. This moves the discussion from theory to practice. The lawyer’s forthcoming answer will compress the law into two commands, setting up Jesus’ affirmation and the lawyer’s attempt to narrow the duty by asking, 'Who is my neighbor?'

v.25And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

v.26This passage

v.27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Galatians 3:21

    Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.

  • Romans 10:5

    For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.

  • Romans 4:14

    For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:

  • Isaiah 8:20

    To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

  • Romans 3:19

    Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:

  • Galatians 3:12

    and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.

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