What Does Luke 10:42 Mean?
But one thing is needed. Mary has picked out the good portion, which will not be lifted from her.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.THE KEY
Mary chooses a share that cannot be taken from her, not a task she must keep performing.
THE MEANING
Beneath the pull of many demands, one thing is needful: receiving Jesus’ words. The good portion Mary chooses is secure; what she receives cannot be taken away from her.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that only visible work has lasting value: attentive receiving can be the necessary thing.
THE ROOT
μερίδα
merida
GROWS FROM
μερ-
mer-
share, portion
The Greek word μερίδα (merida) names a share or portion. Its word family links that share to dividing and allotting, so Mary’s choice is more than picking the right task: she takes a portion that the verse says cannot be taken from her.
ALSO GROWS
meros: part, share
μέρος
This related noun makes clear that the “part” Mary chooses is a share, not merely a piece of work.
merizō: divide, distribute
μερίζω
The related verb shows the same word family at work in portions being divided or assigned; here, the portion Mary chooses remains hers.
THE PATTERN
A portion grounded in God’s presence outlasts what is perishable or can be taken away.
The LORD is the portion of my share and of my cup; you hold fast my lot.Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains unto the life of the ages, which the Son of Man will give to you, for God the Father has sealed him.into an inheritance that cannot be ruined, and cannot be stained, and cannot wither, kept in the heavens for you,THE THREAD
The LORD is the portion of my share and of my cup; you hold fast my lot.The Greek translation of this Psalm uses μερίς (meris), the same word family as μερίδα (merida), “part,” in Luke. The Psalm names the LORD as the speaker’s portion; Luke shows Mary choosing the good portion at Jesus’ feet.
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