God’s Word Translation
Luke 18:15
15Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that.
Luke 18:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
- New International Version (NIV)People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Context of Luke 18:15
13“But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14“I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God’s approval, but the Pharisee didn’t. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored.” Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that. 16But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom. 17I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive God’s kingdom as a little child receives it will never enter it.”
Read all of Luke 18Luke 18:15 word by word
Προσέφερον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται· ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- they broughtπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
- unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- infantsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- infantsβρέφοςbrephos · infantG1025
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- he would touchἅπτωhaptomai · to touchG680
- disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- sawὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- they rebukedἐπιτιμάωepitimaō · to rebukeG2008
Cross-references for Luke 18:15
- 1 Samuel 1:24As soon as she had weaned Samuel, she took him with her. She also brought a three-year-old bull, half a bushel of flour, and a full wineskin. She brought him to the Lord’s house at Shiloh while the boy was ⌞still⌟ a child.
- Matthew 19:13Then some people brought little children to Jesus to have him bless them and pray for them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.
- Mark 10:13Some people brought little children to Jesus to have him hold them. But the disciples told the people not to do that.
- Luke 9:49John replied, “Master, we saw someone forcing demons out of a person by using the power and authority of your name. We tried to stop him because he was not one of us.”
Commentaries on Luke 18:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15They brought unto him also infants - On these verses the reader is requested to consult the notes on Matthew 19:13; (note), Matthew 19:14; (note), and on Mark 10:16; (note). When a spiritual guide (a gooroo) visits his disciple, the latter takes his child to him for his blessing, forcing the head of the child down to the gooroo's feet, who gives what is called his blessing in some such words as these, Live long! - Be learned! - Be rich!Read the comment
- 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. 15-1715. infants--showing that some, at least, of those called in Matthew (Mt 19:13) and Mark (Mr 10:13) simply "little" or "young children," were literally "babes." touch them--or, as more fully in Matthew (Mt 19:13), "put His hands on them and pray," or invoke a "blessing" on them (Mr 10:16), according to venerable custom (Ge 48:14, 15). rebuked them--Repeatedly the disciples thus interposed to save annoyance and interruption to their Master; but, as the…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 18:15
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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