Luke 10 · Verse 36

Luke 10:36

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Luke 10:36, King James Version

Luke 10:36 in other translations

BSBWhich of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
WEBNow which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?”
ASVWhich of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?
YLT‘Who, then, of these three, seemeth to thee to have become neighbour of him who fell among the robbers?'
DARBYWhich now of these three seems to thee to have been neighbour of him who fell into the hands of the robbers?
BBEWhich of these three men, in your opinion, was neighbour to the man who came into the hands of thieves?
WebsterWhich now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers?

What does Luke 10:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
36. Which ... was neighbour?--a most dexterous way of putting the question: (1) Turning the question from, "Whom am I to love as my neighbour?" to "Who is the man that shows that love?" (2) Compelling the lawyer to give a reply very different from what he would like--not only condemning his own nation, but those of them who should be the most exemplary. (3) Making him commend one of a deeply hated race. And he does it, but it is almost extorted. For he does not answer, "The Samaritan"--that would have sounded heterodox, heretical--but "He that showed mercy on him." It comes to the same thing, no doubt, but the circumlocution is significant.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 36. Was neighbour. Showed the kindness of a neighbour, or evinced the proper feelings of a neighbour. The lawyer had asked him who was his neighbour? Jesus in this beautiful narrative showed him who and what a neighbour was, and he did this in a way that disarmed his prejudice, deeply affected him in regard to his own duty, and evinced the beauty of religion. Had he at first told him that a Samaritan might be a neighbour to a Jew and deserve his kindness, he would have been at once revolted at it; but when, by a beautiful and affecting narrative, he brought the man himself to see that it might be, he was constrained to admit it. Here we see the beauty of a parable and its use. It disarmed prejudice, fixed the attention, took the mind gently yet irresistibly, and prevented the possibility of cavil or objection. Compare, also, the address of Nathan to David, 2Sam 12:1-7.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 Which - was neighbor - Which fulfilled the duty which one neighbor owes to another?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 10:25-37

If we speak of eternal life, and the way to it, in a careless manner, we take the name of God in vain. No one will ever love God and his neighbour with any measure of pure, spiritual love, who is not made a partaker of converting grace. But the proud heart of man strives hard against these convictions. Christ gave an instance of a poor Jew in distress, relieved by a good Samaritan. This poor man fell among thieves…

Read the full comment on Luke 10:25-37 →

Luke 10:36 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίςtisWhichG5101
οὖνounthereforeG3767
τούτωνtoutōnof theseG3778
τῶνtōn<the>G3588
τριῶνtriōnthreeG5140
πλησίονplēsiona neighbourG4139
δοκεῖdokeiseemsG1380
σοιsoito youG4771
γεγονέναιgegonenaito have beenG1096
τοῦtouof the [one]G3588
ἐμπεσόντοςempesontosfallingG1706
εἰςeisamongG1519
τοὺςtoustheG3588
λῃστάς;lēstasrobbers?G3027

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 10:36

  • Luke 7:42

    And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

  • Matthew 21:28-31

    But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

  • Matthew 17:25

    He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

  • Matthew 22:42

    Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thinkest.
7:42; Mt 17:25; 21:28-31; 22:42
was.
29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 10:35

    And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

  • Luke 10:36

    Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

  • Luke 10:37

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

Read all of Luke 10

Luke 10:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¿Quién, pues, de estos tres te parece que fué el prójimo de aquél que cayó en manos de los ladrones?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Lequel de ces trois te semble avoir été le prochain de celui qui était tombé entre les mains des voleurs?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Wer von diesen dreien dünkt dich der Nächste gewesen zu sein von dem, der unter die Räuber gefallen war?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Quis horum trium videtur tibi proximus fuisse illi, qui incidit in latrones?