Luke 10:40

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.

a. NLT: But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

b. NIV: But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

c. YLT: and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, 'Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.'

d. Amplified Bible: But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!

e. Worrell Translation: But Martha was being distracted about much seving; and, coming up suddenly, she said, “Lord, carest Thou not that my sister left me to serve alone? Speak to her, therefore, that she assist me!

1. “But Martha was cumbered about much serving…”

 a. but [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. Martha [3136 * Martha] [Strong: probably of Chaldee origin (meaning mistress); Martha, a Christian woman:--Martha.]

c. was cumbered [3136 * perispao] [Strong: from 4012 and 4685; to drag all around, i.e. (figuratively) to distract (with care):--cumber.]

d. about [4012 * peri] [Strong: from the base of 4008; properly, through (all over), i.e. around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period):--(there-)about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ((there-, where-)) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-)state, (as) touching, (where-)by (in), with. In comparative, it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).]

e. much [4183 * polus] [Strong: including the forms from the alternate pollos; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:--abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly.]

f. serving [1248 *  diakonia] [Strong:  from 1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate):--(ad-)minister(-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service(-ing).]

1). There was indeed much serving, for along with Jesus and his disciples there were others who supported the entourage financially and through helps.

a). Luke 8:1-3 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

2.  “…and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?…”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. came to him [2186 * ephistemi] [Strong: from 1909 and 2476; to stand upon, i.e. be present (in various applications, friendly or otherwise, usually literal); --assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over).]

c. and said [2036 * epo] [Strong:  a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from 2046, 4483, and 5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.]

d. Lord [2962 * kurios] [Strong: from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

e. dost [3199 * melo] [Strong: a primary verb; to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters):--(take) care.]

f. thou [4671 * soi] [Strong: dative case of 4771; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy.]

g. not [3756 * ou] [Strong:  also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

h. care [3199 * melo] [Strong: a primary verb; to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third person singular present indicative used impersonally, it matters):--(take) care.]

i. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

j. my [3450 * mou] [Strong: the simpler form of 1700; of me:--I, me, mine (own), my.]

k. sister [79 * adelphe] [Strong: fem of 80; a sister (naturally or ecclesiastically):--sister.]

l. hath left [2641 * kataleipo] [Strong: from 2596 and 3007; to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining:--forsake, leave, reserve.]

m. me [3165 * me] [Strong: from 2596 and 3007; to leave down, i.e. behind; by implication, to abandon, have remaining:--forsake, leave, reserve.]

n. to serve [1248 *  diakonia] [Strong:  from 1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate):--(ad-)minister(-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service(-ing).]

o. alone [3441 * monos] [Strong: probably from 3306; remaining, i.e. sole or single; by implication, mere:--alone, only, by themselves.]

3. “…bid her therefore that she help me.”

a. bid [2036 * epo] [Strong: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from 2046, 4483, and 5346); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell.]

b. her [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. therefore [3767 * oun] [Strong: apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

d. that [2443 * hina] [Strong:  probably from the same as the former part of 1438 (through the demonstrative idea; compare 3588); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result):--albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to]

e. she help [4878 * sunantilambanomai; sun-together with; anti-against; lambano-take hold of ] [Strong: from 4862 and 482; to take hold of opposite together, i.e. co-operate (assist):--help.]

1). Interestingly, this Greek word is only used twice in the New Testament, here and in Romans 8:26 where it describes the ministry of the Holy Ghost in helping us pray in tongues when we don’t know what to pray.

a). Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

f. me [3427 * moi] [Strong: the simpler form of 1698; to me:--I, me, mine, my.]