Luke 10 · Verse 39

Luke 10:39

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
Luke 10:39, King James Version

Luke 10:39 in other translations

BSBShe had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.
WEBShe had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.
ASVAnd she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet, and heard his word.
YLTand she had also a sister, called Mary, who also, having seated herself beside the feet of Jesus, was hearing the word,
DARBYAnd she had a sister called Mary, who also, having sat down at the feet of Jesus was listening to his word.
BBEAnd she had a sister, by name Mary, who took her seat at the Lord's feet and gave attention to his words.
WebsterAnd she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

What does Luke 10:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. which also--"who for her part," in contrast with Martha. sat--"seated herself." From the custom of sitting beneath an instructor, the phrase "sitting at one's feet" came to mean being a disciple of any one (Ac 22:3). heard--rather, "kept listening" to His word.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. Sat at Jesus' feet. This was the ancient posture of disciples or learners. They sat at the feet of their teachers-- that is, beneath them, in a humble place. Hence Paul is represented as having been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, Acts 22:3. When it is said that Mary sat at Jesus' feet, it means that she was a disciple of his; that she listened attentively to his instructions, and was anxious to learn his doctrine.

(q) "sat at Jesus' feet" Lk 8:35, Acts 22:3

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 39 Sat at Jesus' feet - This was the posture of the Jewish scholars, while listening to the instructions of the rabbins. It is in this sense that St. Paul says he was brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel, Act 22:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 10:38-42

A good sermon is not the worse for being preached in a house; and the visits of our friends should be so managed, as to make them turn to the good of their souls. Sitting at Christ's feet, signifies readiness to receive his word, and submission to the guidance of it. Martha was providing for the entertainment of Christ, and those that came with him. Here were respect to our Lord Jesus and right care of her household…

Read the full comment on Luke 10:38-42 →

Luke 10:39 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
τῇδεtēadesheG3592
ἦνēnwasG1510
ἀδελφὴadelphēa sisterG79
καλουμένηkaloumenēbeing calledG2564
Μαριάμ.MariamMary.G3137
ἣhēSheG3739
καὶkaialsoG2532
παρακαθεσθεῖσαparakathestheisahaving sat downG3869
πρὸςprosatG4314
τοὺςtoustheG3588
πόδαςpodasfeetG4228
τοῦtouof theG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
ἤκουενēkouenwas listening toG191
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
αὐτοῦ.autouof Him.G846

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

Cross references for Luke 10:39

  • Proverbs 8:34

    Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

  • Luke 8:35

    Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

  • John 12:3

    Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

  • Acts 22:3

    I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

  • Deuteronomy 33:3

    Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

  • Luke 2:46

    And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

  • 1 Corinthians 7:32-40

    But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
which.
2:46; 8:35; De 33:3; Pr 8:34; Ac 22:3; 1Co 7:32-40

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

Context

  • Luke 10:38

    Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

  • Luke 10:39

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

  • Luke 10:40

    But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Read all of Luke 10

Luke 10:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y ésta tenía una hermana que se llamaba María, la cual sentándose á los pies de Jesús, oía su palabra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et elle avait une sœur appelée Marie, qui aussi, s’étant assise aux pieds de Jésus, écoutait sa parole;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und diese hatte eine Schwester, genannt Maria, die sich auch zu den Füßen Jesu niedersetzte und seinem Worte zuhörte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et huic erat soror nomine Maria, quæ etiam sedens secus pedes Domini, audiebat verbum illius.