Section 10:38–42

Jesus visited Martha and Mary

Jesus and his disciples continued to travel from place to place. During their travels, Jesus went to the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Their brother was Lazarus. This short section shows how the two sisters considered different things to be important. It also tells what Jesus thought about those things.

Some other examples for section headings are:

Jesus’ Visit with Martha and Mary
-or-
At the Home of Martha and Mary (New International Version)

This story occurs only in Luke.

Paragraph 10:38–42

10:38a

As they traveled along: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As they traveled along is literally “they were traveling/journeying.” In order to make the subject clear at the beginning of a new section, some versions (Good News Translation, New Century Version, New International Version, New Living Translation (2004)) say “Jesus and his disciples” here rather than “they.”

The phrase traveled along indicates that Jesus and his disciples continued to travel through various villages. They were going to Jerusalem (see 9:51 and 13:22), but that is not in focus here. If you need to specify where they were going, you may say “Jerusalem.” For example:

continued on their way to Jerusalem (New Living Translation (2004))

Jesus entered: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus entered is literally “he entered.” Several English versions translate it that way. This phrase refers only to Jesus, since the focus of the story is on him. However, his disciples were probably still with him. Some ways to indicate this are:

• Use a plural form like “they.” For example:

they arrived/entered/came

• Use a singular form like “he,” but also mention the disciples. For example:

Jesus, accompanied by his disciples, continued to travel until he arrived in a certain village.

Try to use a natural way in your language to keep the focus on Jesus. But you should not imply that Jesus left the disciples outside the village while he entered.

a village: This village was probably Bethany (see John 11:1 and 12:1–3). You may give the name of this village in a footnote along with the cross-references from John. However, it is not recommended that you supply the name in the text.

10:38b

where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home: In some languages it may be necessary to start a new sentence here and supply the information that Martha lived in this village. For example:

A woman named Martha ⌊lived there, and she⌋ welcomed him into her home.

Martha welcomed Him into her home: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as welcomed Him into her home means that she offered food and lodging for the night to Jesus and probably to all his disciples that were traveling with him. Here are some other ways to translate this:

gave/offered him food and lodging at her house
-or-
welcomed him ⌊and his traveling companions⌋ to stay/lodge/sleep at her house for the night
-or-
received him as a guest in her home, ⌊together with his disciples⌋

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