10:40a

But: The Greek particle that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But here introduces a contrast between what Mary was doing and what Martha was doing. Indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

Martha was distracted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as distracted occurs only here in the NT. In this context it indicates that Martha was busy, worried, or “upset” by all the work that needed to be done. Because of this, she was unable to listen to Jesus. It refers both to her feelings and to the many things that she was doing.

by all the preparations to be made: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all the preparations to be made is literally “much service.” In this context it refers primarily to the work that was involved in preparing and serving a special meal for their honored guest(s).

Some ways to translate 10:40a are:

Martha was distracted with much serving (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Martha was distracted by her many tasks (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Martha was upset over all the work she had to do (Good News Translation)
-or-
Martha was busy with all the work to be done (New Century Version)

10:40b

She came to Jesus: Martha came to Jesus as a result of the situation described in 10:39–10:40a. Martha had been working by herself for some time. Consider how to express the connection between 10:39–40a and 10:40b in your language. Some ways to do that in English are:

So she went to Jesus
-or-

Finally, she went to Jesus (Contemporary English Version)

and said: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as said introduces the rhetorical question that Martha asked in 10:40c. Consider whether in your language it would be more natural to use “said” or “asked” here.

10:40c

Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord is the same word that was used in 10:39. The text does not make explicit exactly what Martha implied when she used this title to address Jesus.

Consider whether or not it is natural in your language to use the same title here and in 10:39. You should use a title that indicates great respect. For example:

⌊my⌋ Lord/Chief
-or-
Master/Teacher

See Lord, Context 3, in the Glossary.

do You not care: The form of this question in Greek implies that Martha expected Jesus to respond by asking Mary to help her with the work.

This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a complaint, and it indicates that Martha was disturbed and frustrated. It seemed unfair to her that Mary was not helping with the work, and she was frustrated that Jesus allowed that. The question implies that Jesus should have done something to correct the situation.

There are at least three ways to translate this rhetorical question:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Lord, doesn’t it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Lord, do you think it is good that my sister is letting me do all the work by myself?

• As a statement and a question. For example:

Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Aren’t you concerned about that?
-or-
Lord, it seems unfair that my sister has left me to do the work by myself. ⌊Don’t you agree?⌋

• As a statement. For example:

Lord, surely you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself!
-or-
Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. I do not understand why you have done nothing about it.

Express Martha’s frustration in a natural way in your language. Notice that some languages use a negative question, as in the Contemporary English Version example. Other languages use a positive question to express the same meaning. Be sure to choose an appropriate form in your language to express Martha’s frustration.

my sister has left me to serve alone: This statement implies that Martha did all the work of serving the guests herself. It implies that Mary had not helped Martha at all. Another way to translate this is:

my sister just sits here while I do all the work (New Living Translation (2004))

my sister: The phrase my sister refers here to Martha’s younger sister Mary. Use a natural way in your language for a woman to refer to her younger sister. In some languages it may be necessary to supply the name “Mary” here.

to serve: In this context the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to serve refers to doing the necessary household tasks. Here these tasks probably involved cooking and preparing to serve food to the guests.

alone: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as alone here means “by myself” or “without any help.”

10:40d

Tell her to help me!: In Greek, this clause is literally, “Speak, therefore, to her so that she will help me.” The conjunction “therefore” introduces a conclusion. Martha believed that Jesus should care about her situation, so she asked him to tell Mary to help. Some English versions use the words “so” or “then” to imply this. For example:

Tell her then to help me. (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
So kindly ask her to come and work with me.

In some languages, a literal translation may seem as if Martha was rudely ordering Jesus to do something. You should translate this clause in a way that indicates proper respect. For example:

Please tell her to help me. (New Jerusalem Bible)

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