Luke 9:46-48
Christian Standard Bible
Who Is the Greatest?
46 An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.(A) 47 But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts,[a](B) took a little child and had him stand next to him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes[b] this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me.(C) For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”(D)
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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.
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