Luke - 10:36

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36 Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 10:36.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?
Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers?
Which now of these three seems to thee to have been neighbour of him who fell into the hands of the robbers?
Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbour unto him that fell among the robbers?
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers?
'Who, then, of these three, seemeth to thee to have become neighbour of him who fell among the robbers?'
Which now of these three, think you, was neighbor to him that fell among the thieves?
"Which of those three seems to you to have acted like a fellow man to him who fell among the robbers?"
Which of these three, does it seem to you, was a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Was neighbour - Showed the kindness of a neighbor, or evinced the proper feelings of a neighbor. The lawyer had asked him who was his neighbor? Jesus in this beautiful narrative showed him who and what a neighbor 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 neighbor 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, 2-Samuel 12:1-7.

Which - was neighbor - Which fulfilled the duty which one neighbor owes to another?

Which now of these three,.... The priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan,
thinkest thou, was neighbour to him that fell among the thieves? the priest and Levite that passed by, and took no notice of him, and gave him no relief, neither by words nor actions; or the Samaritan, that did all the above kind and generous things to him?

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.

Which of these was the neighbour to him that fell among the robbers - Which acted the part of a neighbour?

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