English Standard Version
Luke 18:16
16But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Luke 18:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
- New International Version (NIV)But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
Context of Luke 18:16
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." 15Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 18And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Read all of Luke 18Luke 18:16 word by word
ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς προσεκαλέσατο αὐτὰ λέγων· ἄφετε τὰ παιδία ἔρχεσθαι πρός με καὶ μὴ κωλύετε αὐτά· τῶν γὰρ τοιούτων ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- calledπροσκαλέωproskaleomai · to call to/summonG4341
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Sufferἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: permitG863
- little childrenπαιδίονpaidion · childG3813
- to comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- forbidκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
- notμήmē · notG3361
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- of suchτοιοῦτοςtoioutos · such as thisG5108
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
Cross-references for Luke 18:16
- Genesis 47:10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
- Genesis 21:4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
- Deuteronomy 29:11your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water,
- Deuteronomy 31:12Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law,
- 2 Chronicles 20:13Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
- Jeremiah 32:39I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.
- Acts 2:39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
- 1 Corinthians 7:14For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
- Matthew 18:3and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
- 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Commentaries on Luke 18:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-30Verses 15-30 See the notes at Matthew 19:13-30.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-17Verses 15-17 None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17This incident illustrates 18:14. they rebuked those who brought them: In this cultural setting, children had little social importance (see study note on 9:48). Because of this, the disciples saw them as interrupting the important ministry of Jesus.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. But Jesus--"much displeased," says Mark (Mr 10:14); and invaluable addition. said--"Suffer the little children to come unto Me"--"AND FORBID THEM NOT," is the important addition of Matthew (Mt 19:14) and Mark (Mr 10:14). What words are these from the lips of Christ! The price of them is above rubies. But the reason assigned, "For of such is the Kingdom of God," or "of heaven," as in Mt 19:14, completes the previous information here conveyed…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 18:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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