Bible Encyclopedia: Martha

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MARTHA

mar'-tha (Martha, "mistress," being a transliteration of the feminine form of mar, "Lord"): Martha belonged to Bethany, and was the sister of Lazarus and Mary (John 11:1 f). From the fact that the house into which Jesus was received belonged to Martha, and that she generally took the lead in action, it is inferred that she was the eider sister. Martha was one of those who gave hospitality to Jesus during His public ministry. Thus, in the course of those wanderings which began when "he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerus" (Luke 9:51), he "entered into a certain village"-its name is not stated-and "a certain woman named Martha received him into her house" (Luke 10:38). Martha, whose sense of responsibility as hostess weighed heavily upon her, was "cumbered about much serving," and her indignation was aroused at the lack of assistance given to her by her sister. Her words, "Lord, dost thou not care?" implied a certain reproach to Jesus also, in that she felt He showed a want of sympathy with her efforts and was the cause of Mary's remissness. But Jesus, in tones of gentle reproof, reminded her that for Him not the preparation of an elaborate meal but the hearing of His Word in the spirit of Mary was the "one thing needful" (Luke 10:39-42).

Martha is first mentioned by John-the only other Gospel writer who refers to Martha-in his account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead at Bethany (John 11:1-44). The narrative indicates, however, that Jesus was already on terms of the closest friendship with her and her household (compare 11:3, 5). In the incident which John here records, Martha again displayed her more practical nature by going out to meet Jesus, while Mary sat in the house (11:20). But she was not behind her sister in her love for her brother (11:19), in her faith in Jesus (11:21) and in her belief in the final resurrection (11:24). The power of Him, whom she termed the "Teacher," to restore Lazarus to life even upon earth was beyond her understanding. To the words of Jesus concerning this she gave, however, a verbal assent, and went and informed Mary, "The Teacher is here, and calleth thee" (11:27). Yet she remained inwardly unconvinced, and remonstrated when Jesus ordered the stone before the grave to be removed (11:39). Jesus then recalled His previous words to her remembrance (11:40), and vindicated them by restoring her brother to life (11:41-44). After the raising of Lazarus, Jesus then made His departure, but after a short stay in Ephraim (11:54) He returned to Bethany (John 12:1). While He supped there, Martha once more served, and Lazarus was also present (John 12:2). It was on this occasion that Mary anointed the feet of Jesus (John 12:3-8). According to Matthew 26:6-13 Mark 14:3-9, the anointing took place in the house of Simon the leper, and it has hence been concluded by some that Martha was the wife or widow of Simon. The anointing described in Luke 7:36-50 happened in the house of Simon a Pharisee. But in none of the synoptist accounts is Martha mentioned. For the relationship of these anointings with each other, see MARY, IV. As, according to John, the abode of the sisters was in Bethany, a further difficulty of a topographical nature is raised by those who hold that Luke implies, from the Galilean setting of Luke 10:38-41, that the sisters lived in Galilee. But the information supplied by Luke, upon which this inference is based, is of the vaguest (compare Luke 10:38), and the great division of Luke's Gospel (Luke 9:51-18:31) has within it no organic cohesion of parts. In it is mentioned that on two separate occasions Jesus passed through Samaria (Luke 9:52; Luke 17:11). It is therefore more logical to suppose that the events described in Luke 10:38-41, falling within the intervening period, took place in Bethany during an excursion of Jesus to Judea, and formed one of the several visits upon which the friendship recorded in John 11:3, 5 was built. According to a fragment of a Coptic gospel belonging to the 2nd century (compare Hennecke, Neutestamentliche Apokryphen, 38, 39), Martha was present with the other two Marys at the empty grave of Jesus (compare Matthew 28:1, 11), and went and informed the disciples.

C. M. Kerr

Greek

3136. Martha -- Martha, a Christian woman
... 3135, 3136. Martha. 3137 . Martha, a Christian woman. Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: Martha Phonetic Spelling: (mar ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3136.htm - 6k

2976. Lazaros -- Lazarus, the name of two Israelites
... Lazaros Phonetic Spelling: (lad'-zar-os) Short Definition: Lazarus, Eliezer Definition:
Lazarus, Eliezer, (a) the beggar, (b) the brother of Martha and Mary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2976.htm - 6k

3137. Maria -- Mary, the name of several Christian women
... Spelling: (mar-ee'-ah) Short Definition: Mary, Miriam Definition: Mary, Miriam,
(a) the mother of Jesus, (b) of Magdala, (c) sister of Martha and Lazarus, (d ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3137.htm - 6k

963. Bethania -- "house of affliction" or "house of dates ...
... Feminine Transliteration: Bethania Phonetic Spelling: (bay-than-ee'-ah) Short
Definition: Bethany Definition: (a) Bethany, the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/963.htm - 6k

Library

Jesus, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
... ILLUSTRATIONS: JESUS, MARTHA, MARY, AND LAZARUS. ... And Jesus answered and said unto
her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/jesus martha mary and lazarus.htm

At the House of Martha --The Good Shepherd.
... THE NEW TESTAMENT. CHAPTER XXIX. AT THE HOUSE OF MARTHA"THE GOOD SHEPHERD. While
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem a lawyer came and asked Him questions. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxix at the house.htm

The Family of Lazarus. --Martha and Mary; their Different
... CHAPTER XV. JESUS IN BETHANY. Section 229. The Family of Lazarus."Martha
and Mary; their different. Tendencies. (Luke, x., 38, seq.) ...
/.../section 229 the family of.htm

Martha and Mary. Lk 10:38-42
... LUKE Hymn 100 MARTHA and MARY. Lk 10:38-42. John Newton 8,8,8,8. MARTHA and MARY.
Lk 10:38-42. Martha her love and joy expressed. By care to entertain her guest ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 100 martha and mary.htm

Death of Martha Yeardley, and John Yeardley's Journey to Norway.
... CHAPTER XVIII. DEATH OF MARTHA YEARDLEY, AND JOHN YEARDLEY'S JOURNEY TO NORWAY.
1851-2. Martha Yeardley continued very unwell during ...
/.../chapter xviii death of martha.htm

His Marriage with Martha Savory.
... CHAPTER VII. HIS MARRIAGE WITH MARTHA SAVORY. 1826-27. During his stay
in London, John Yeardley attended the Yearly Meeting, and ...
/.../chapter vii his marriage with.htm

Jesus the Guest of Martha and Mary.
... Bethany. (Time: One Year Less One Week.) LXXXV. Jesus the Guest of Martha
and Mary. (Bethany, Near Jerusalem.) ^C Luke 10:38-42. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxxv jesus the guest of.htm

Of the Main Effort Towards the Contemplation of Things and an ...
... I. First Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter VIII. Of the main effort towards the
contemplation of things and an illustration from the case of Martha and Mary. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter viii of the main.htm

Again, on the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, Etc. , About Martha ...
... Again, on the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, etc., about Martha and Mary. [CIV. ...
Again, on the words of the Gospel, Luke 10:38, etc., about Martha and Mary. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon liv again on the.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, "And a Certain Woman Named ...
... Sermon LIII. On the words of the Gospel, Luke x. 38, "And a certain woman
named Martha received him into her house," etc. [CIII. Ben.] ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon liii on the words.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Martha

who becomes bitter; provoking

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Martha

(a lady), the sister of Lazarus and Mary. [LAZARUS] The facts recorded in Luke 10 and John 11 indicate a character devout after the customary Jewish type of devotion, sharing in Messianic hopes and accepting Jesus as the Christ. When she first comes before us, (Luke 10:38) her spirit is "cumbered with much serving," is "careful and troubled about many things." Her love, though imperfect in its form, is yet recognized as true, and she has the distinction of being one whom Jesus loved. (John 11:5) Her position is obviously that of the elder sister the head and manager of the household. In the supper at Bethany (John 12:2) the old character shows itself still, but it has been freed from evil. She is no longer "cumbered," no longer impatient. Activity has been calmed by trust.

ATS Bible Dictionary

Martha

Sister of Lazarus and Mary, at Bethany. Though different from Mary in temperament, she was no less truly a devoted friend of Christ and beloved by him, John 11:5. His gentle reproof, Lu 10...38-42, does not imply that she was a stranger to renewing grace. Her affectionate care for the hospitable entertainment of Christ must not be forgotten, nor her promptness in hasting to meet him nor her faith in his power, John 11:20-28 12:1,2. See MARY 4.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Bitterness, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, and probably the eldest of the family, who all resided at Bethany (Luke 10:38, 40, 41; John 11:1-39). From the residence being called "her house," some have supposed that she was a widow, and that her brother and sister lodged with her. She seems to have been of an anxious, bustling spirit, anxious to be helpful in providing the best things for the Master's use, in contrast to the quiet earnestness of Mary, who was more concerned to avail herself of the opportunity of sitting at his feet and learning of him. Afterwards at a supper given to Christ and his disciples in her house "Martha served." Nothing further is known of her.

"Mary and Martha are representatives of two orders of human character. One was absorbed, preoccupied, abstracted; the other was concentrated and single-hearted. Her own world was the all of Martha; Christ was the first thought with Mary. To Martha life was `a succession of particular businesses;' to Mary life 'was rather the flow of one spirit.' Martha was Petrine, Mary was Johannine. The one was a well-meaning, bustling busybody; the other was a reverent disciple, a wistful listener." Paul had such a picture as that of Martha in his mind when he spoke of serving the Lord "without distraction" (1 Corinthians 7:35).

Thesaurus

Martha (12 Occurrences)
... Afterwards at a supper given to Christ and his disciples in her house
"Martha served." Nothing further is known of her. "Mary and ...
/m/martha.htm - 16k

Sister (113 Occurrences)
... Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him,
and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? ...
/s/sister.htm - 42k

Laz'arus (16 Occurrences)
... John 11:1 And there was a certain one ailing, Lazarus, from Bethany, of the
village of Mary and Martha her sister -- (See RSV). John ...
/l/laz'arus.htm - 10k

Lazarus (19 Occurrences)
... helps. (1.) The brother of Mary and Martha of Bethany. ... Bethany. He was the brother
of Martha and Mary (John 11:1, 2; see also Luke 10:38-41). ...
/l/lazarus.htm - 21k

Village (21 Occurrences)
... Luke 10:38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village,
and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ...
/v/village.htm - 16k

Upset (9 Occurrences)
... dealers, (WEY). Luke 10:41 Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious
and troubled about many things, (See NIV). John 2:15 ...
/u/upset.htm - 9k

Worried (6 Occurrences)
... NAS). Luke 10:41 "Martha, Martha," replied Jesus, "you are anxious and worried
about a multitude of things; (WEY NAS NIV). 1 Samuel ...
/w/worried.htm - 8k

Disquieted (13 Occurrences)
... Disquieted (13 Occurrences). Luke 10:41 And Jesus answering said to her, 'Martha,
Martha, thou art anxious and disquieted about many things, (YLT). ...
/d/disquieted.htm - 10k

Met (118 Occurrences)
... John 11:20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him,
but Mary stayed in the house. (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/m/met.htm - 37k

Bothered (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Bothered (2 Occurrences). Luke 10:41 Jesus answered her,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (See NAS). ...
/b/bothered.htm - 7k

Bible Concordance

Martha (12 Occurrences)

Luke 10:38 It happened as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:41 Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. The Acts of the Apostles
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 12:2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Martha

Martha: Beloved by Jesus

Martha: Ministers to Jesus

Martha: Sister of Mary and Lazarus

Related Terms

Sister (113 Occurrences)

Laz'arus (16 Occurrences)

Lazarus (19 Occurrences)

Village (21 Occurrences)

Upset (9 Occurrences)

Worried (6 Occurrences)