Luke 9:46-48
New American Standard Bible
The Test of Greatness
46 (A)Now an argument [a]started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. 47 But Jesus, (B)knowing [b]what they were thinking in their hearts, took a child and had him stand by His side, 48 and He said to them, “(C)Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; (D)for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
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Luke 9:46-48
New English Translation
Concerning the Greatest
46 Now an argument started among the disciples[a] as to which of them might be[b] the greatest. 47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts,[c] he took a child, had him stand by[d] his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes[e] this child[f] in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”[g]
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- Luke 9:46 tn Grk “among them”; the referent (the disciples) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Luke 9:46 tn The use of the optative mood means the answer is not clear (BDF §§267.2.2; 385.2.2).
- Luke 9:47 tn Grk “knowing the thoughts of their hearts” (an idiom).
- Luke 9:47 tn On this use of παρά (para), see BDF §238.
- Luke 9:48 tn This verb, δέχομαι (dechomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).
- Luke 9:48 sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.
- Luke 9:48 tn Grk “among you all, this one is great.” The absence of a comparative term here makes the point that comparison should not be done.
Luke 9:46-48
King James Version
46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
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