Devine Scripture

Luke 10:37

What does Luke 10:37 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 10:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 10:37 means

The lawyer answers: 'He that showed mercy on him.' Jesus then says, 'Go, and do thou likewise.' The lawyer’s admission corrects his attempt to limit the law, and Jesus’ command applies the parable: the standard of neighborliness is merciful action, not ethnic proximity. 'Go and do likewise' calls for active imitation—practical obedience rather than mere assent. The conclusion brings the law back to life: love for neighbor requires concrete, costly compassion toward anyone in need.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, The one who had mercy on him. And Jesus said, Go and do the same.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said, `He who did the kindness with him,' then Jesus said to him, `Be going on, and thou be doing in like manner.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he said: He that shewed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do thou in like manner.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, He that shewed him mercy. And Jesus said to him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Context

This verse concludes the legal exchange by settling the lawyer’s test: mercy defines neighbor. The imperative 'Go, do likewise' shifts the lesson from theory to practice and closes the parable. The narrative then returns to Jesus traveling on, entering a village where Martha and Mary provide a personal illustration of listening and serving, contrasting two spiritual postures.

v.36Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?

v.37This passage

v.38Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 23:23

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

  • 1 John 3:23

    And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.

  • 1 John 3:16

    Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

  • 1 John 4:10

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  • Ephesians 3:18

    may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

  • John 13:15

    For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.

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