He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

LUKE 10:26KJV
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Luke 10:26 (KJV)

What does Luke 10:26 mean?

Luke 10:26 shows Jesus responding to a question by asking the man what is written in the Jewish law and how he personally understands it. Jesus turns the question back to the man, inviting him to reflect on the Scriptures himself.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a lawyer—someone trained in the Jewish law—who has just asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus points the man to the law (the Torah) and asks not only what is written but also how the man reads or interprets it, highlighting the importance of personal engagement with Scripture.

The Greek behind Luke 10:26

  • The word for "law" is νόμος (nomos), which refers specifically to the Jewish religious law, especially the Torah. Jesus is directing the man to the foundational texts of Jewish faith.
  • The phrase "how readest thou?" uses the Greek πῶς (pōs, "how") and ἀναγινώσκεις (anaginōskeis, "you read"). This combination shows Jesus is not just asking for a quotation but is inviting the man to share his own understanding or interpretation of the law.

Why Luke 10:26 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jesus always gave direct answers; here, he encourages personal responsibility in understanding Scripture.
  • Luke 10:26 emphasizes that knowing what is written is not enough—how one interprets and applies it also matters.
  • This exchange sets up the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that the heart of the law is not just in the words but in how they are understood and lived out.

Where else these words appear

“thou” Greek G314 · used in 30 verses

  • Matthew 12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
  • Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
  • Acts 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

“how” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.