Luke 10 39

Luke 10:39 kjv

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

Luke 10:39 nkjv

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

Luke 10:39 niv

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

Luke 10:39 esv

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

Luke 10:39 nlt

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught.

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 39 Meaning

Luke 10:39 portrays Mary, Martha's sister, seated at Jesus' feet, diligently listening to His teaching. This verse highlights Mary's conscious choice to prioritize spiritual instruction from Jesus above other tasks or societal expectations. It exemplifies a posture of humble discipleship and devoted attention to the Word of God, setting the scene for Jesus' commendation of her choice in the subsequent verses.

Luke 10 39 Context

Luke 10:39 is part of a larger narrative block (Luke 10:25-42) where Jesus addresses important aspects of discipleship. It immediately follows the parable of the Good Samaritan, which illustrates practical love and compassion for neighbors. This verse introduces the contrasting scene at Martha and Mary's house in Bethany. Culturally, while Martha fulfills the expected role of a woman in a host's home, preparing hospitality, Mary adopts a posture of learning traditionally reserved for male disciples or students of a rabbi. This specific encounter highlights a tension between service and spiritual devotion, preparing for Jesus' teaching in the next verses about choosing "the good part."

Luke 10 39 Word analysis

• And she had a sister: This phrase highlights Mary's familial connection to Martha, setting up the direct contrast between their actions.
• called Mary (Μαρίαν - Marian): Her identity, contrasting her from her sister Martha.
• who sat (καθίσασα - kathisas): This Greek word describes a purposeful act of taking a seat, not just passively being present. The continuous tense in the original suggests a sustained action, an attentive posture.
• at the Lord’s feet (πρὸς τοὺς πόδας τοῦ Κυρίου - pros tous podas tou Kyriou): This is a key phrase. It signifies the position of a disciple learning from a teacher. It demonstrates humility, submission, and eagerness to learn. It was a well-known custom for a student to sit at a rabbi's feet (e.g., Paul sat at Gamaliel’s feet in Acts 22:3). "Lord" (Kyriou) here emphasizes Jesus' authority and divinity as the ultimate teacher.
• and listened (ἤκουεν - ēkouen): The imperfect tense implies continuous and focused listening, not just hearing. It conveys an active engagement with what was being taught, suggesting an eager reception and concentration.
• to his teaching / to His word (τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ - ton logon autou): "Logos" here refers to the spoken instruction, message, or discourse of Jesus. It underscores that Mary's focus was specifically on Jesus' spiritual message, not general conversation. This "word" is seen as living and transformative.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "sat at the Lord's feet": This phrase powerfully depicts Mary's humility, submission to Jesus' authority, and her chosen role as a devoted disciple. It's a radical image for a woman in that cultural context, breaking societal norms to prioritize spiritual learning directly from the Lord.
• "and listened to his teaching / to His word": This signifies Mary's primary focus and the core activity. She wasn't simply present but actively absorbing and receiving Jesus's profound spiritual truths. This action directly contrasts with Martha's active "serving," highlighting the supreme value of spiritual nourishment.

Luke 10 39 Bonus section

Mary's decision to sit at Jesus' feet was not a passive act but a profound and deliberate choice to place herself in a position of receiving spiritual truth. This radical act implicitly challenges traditional gender roles of the time, where women's primary duties were often confined to the household, rarely being afforded formal roles as students or hearers of religious instruction. Jesus, by accepting Mary's posture, affirmed that spiritual truth and discipleship were equally available and essential for all, irrespective of gender or societal expectation. This encounter sets Mary as a vital prototype for Christian devotion—demonstrating that ultimate priority is found in focused attention on Christ's presence and His teaching.

Luke 10 39 Commentary

Luke 10:39 presents Mary as a paradigm of active discipleship by intentionally choosing a posture of learning and spiritual receptivity over domestic concerns. Her "sitting at the Lord's feet" was a deliberate act of submission and humility, indicative of a true learner. In a cultural context where women typically served in the background, Mary boldly embraced the role of a disciple, eagerly absorbing Jesus's life-giving words. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' powerful teaching on spiritual priorities, valuing spiritual communion and the nourishment of His word above even good and necessary service. It emphasizes that while external acts of service are good, attentive listening to God's Word and fellowship with Him must hold the primary position in a believer's life.