Luke 10:36

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses an expert in the law immediately after narrating the actions of the priest, Levite, and Samaritan. He poses a direct question to force the listener to evaluate which of the three acted as a neighbor to the robbed man.

The words — The Greek τίς (tis) means “which one,” and πλησίον (plēsion) translates literally to “neighbor” or “one nearby.” Jesus uses δοκεῖ (dokei) to ask what the listener “seems” or “judges” to be true regarding the three men.

The thread — This rhetorical structure mirrors Jesus’ similar questions in Luke 7:42, Matthew 21:28, and Matthew 17:25, where he prompts his listeners to weigh a scenario and draw a conclusion. Each instance uses a comparative question to expose the listener’s own reasoning.

Why it lands — The verse demands that the reader identify the neighbor not by religious status or proximity, but by demonstrated mercy. It requires a concrete moral judgment before issuing the command to imitate that action.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

τίςtisWhich οὖνountherefore τούτωνtoutōnof these τῶνtōn<the>τριῶνtriōnthree πλησίονplēsiona neighbour δοκεῖdokeiseems σοιsoito you γεγονέναιgegonenaito have been τοῦtouof the [one]ἐμπεσόντοςempesontosfalling εἰςeisamong τοὺςtousthe λῃστάς;lēstasrobbers?

King James Version

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Cross-references

Luke 7:42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
Matthew 21:28 But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
Matthew 17:25 “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
Matthew 22:42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered.