LUKE 18:15 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The people also brought their babies to Yeshua so that he would touch them and bless them, but his apprentices scolded them when they saw it.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And they were bringing even the infants to him so that he might touch them, but the disciples, having seen it, were rebuking them.

UST One day people were bringing even their babies to Jesus so that he would put his hands on them and bless them. When the disciples saw this, they told them not to do that.

BSB Now [people] were even bringing [their] babies to [Jesus] for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw [this], they rebuked [those who brought them].

BLB And they were bringing the infants also to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples having seen, were rebuking them.

AICNT Now they were [also][fn] bringing {babies}[fn] to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

18:15, also: Absent from D(05).

18:15, babies: D(05) reads “children.”

OEB ¶ Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.

WEBBE They were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.

LSV And they were also bringing the babies near, that He may touch them, and the disciples having seen, rebuked them,

FBV Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.

TCNT Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus so that he might touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who were bringing them,

T4T One day when many people were coming to Jesus, they were also bringing small children. They wanted him to put his hands on the children and bless them. When the disciples saw that, they rebuked those who were bringing those children.

LEB ¶ Now they were bringing even their[fn] babies to him so that he could touch them. But when[fn] the disciples saw it,[fn] they rebuked them.

18:15 *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun

18:15 *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal

18:15 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE And they took their children to him, so that he might put his hands on them: but when the disciples saw it, they said sharp words to them

Moff Now people even brought their infants for him to touch them; when the disciples noticed it they checked them,

Wymth On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.

ASV And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

DRA And they brought unto him also infants, that he might touch them. Which when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.

YLT And they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them,

Drby And they brought to him also infants that he might touch them, but the disciples when they saw [it] rebuked them.

RV And they brought unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

SLT And they also brought babes to him, that he might touch them: and the disciples having seen, censured them.

Wbstr And they brought to him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it , they rebuked them.

KJB-1769 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

KJB-1611 And they brought vnto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above)

Bshps They brought vnto him also infantes that he should touch them: Which, whe his disciples sawe it, they rebuked the.
(They brought unto him also infantes that he should touch them: Which, when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.)

Gnva They brought vnto him also babes that he should touche them. And when his disciples sawe it, they rebuked them.
(They brought unto him also babes that he should touch them. And when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. )

Cvdl They brought yonge children also vnto him, that he shulde touch them. But whan the disciples sawe that, they rebuked them.
(They brought young children also unto him, that he should touch them. But when the disciples saw that, they rebuked them.)

TNT They brought vnto him also babes that he shuld touche them. When his disciples sawe that they rebuked them.
(They brought unto him also babes that he should touch them. When his disciples saw that they rebuked them. )

Wycl And thei brouyten to hym yonge children, that he schulde touche hem; and whanne the disciplis saien this thing, thei blameden hem.
(And they brought to him young children, that he should touch hem; and when the disciples saien this thing, they blamed hem.)

Luth Sie brachten auch junge Kindlein zu ihm daß er sie sollte anrühren. Da es aber die Jünger sahen, bedräueten sie die.
(They/She brought also young little_child to/for him that he they/she/them should touch. So it but the disciple saw, threatenedn they/she/them die.)

ClVg Afferebant autem ad illum et infantes, ut eos tangeret. Quod cum viderent discipuli, increpabant illos.[fn]
(They_brought however to him and infants, as them would_touch. That when/with to_seent students, increpabant those. )

18.15 Afferebant autem. Post dictam controversiam, post datam sententiam humili magistro, offeruntur infantes, ut ostendatur quod innocens et simplex ætas ad gratiam pertineat. Increpant apostoli, non quod nollent infantes manu et voce Salvatoris benedici, sed quia nondum perfecti in fide, putabant eum in similitudinem hominum lassari importunitate offerentium. Increpabant. Hoc fortasse ideo, quia prius populum Judæorum ex quo secundum carnem erant, salvari volebant, sed et pro Chananæa muliere supplicaverunt. Sciebant ergo mysterium, quod utriusque populi vocatio deberetur, sed fortasse adhuc nesciebant ordinem.

18.15 They_brought however. After said/dictatedm controversiam, after datam opinion humble magistro, are_offered infants, as be_shown that innocent and simplex ætas to grace pertineat. Increpant apostles, not/no that nollent infants by_hand and voice Saviour to_be_blessed, but because not_yet perfect in/into/on with_faith, they_thought him in/into/on similarity of_men lassari importunitate they_will_offerium. Increpabant. This fortasse therefore/for_that_reason, because first/before the_people Yudahorum from where after/second the_flesh they_were, to_be_saved they_wanted, but and for Chananæa woman supplicaverunt. Sciebant therefore mystery, that of_both of_the_people calledo to_have_totur, but fortasse still nesciebant order.

UGNT προσέφερον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη, ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται; ἰδόντες δὲ, οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς.
(proseferon de autōi kai ta brefaʸ, hina autōn haptaʸtai; idontes de, hoi mathaʸtai epetimōn autois.)

SBL-GNT Προσέφερον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται· ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ ⸀ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς.
(Proseferon de autōi kai ta brefaʸ hina autōn haptaʸtai; idontes de hoi mathaʸtai ⸀epetimōn autois.)

RP-GNT Προσέφερον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη, ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται· ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.
(Proseferon de autōi kai ta brefaʸ, hina autōn haptaʸtai; idontes de hoi mathaʸtai epetimaʸsan autois.)

TC-GNT Προσέφερον δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη, ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται· [fn]ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ [fn]ἐπετίμησαν αὐτοῖς.
(Proseferon de autōi kai ta brefaʸ, hina autōn haptaʸtai; idontes de hoi mathaʸtai epetimaʸsan autois. )

18:15 ιδοντες δε ¦ και ιδοντες ANT

18:15 επετιμησαν ¦ επετιμων CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 18:15–17: People should enter God’s kingdom humbly like children

Jesus used the story of the tax collector in the previous section to teach that God accepts people who are humble. In this section he used young children to teach the same lesson. People brought their children so that Jesus could bless them. The disciples probably thought that Jesus was too busy as an important teacher to bless the children. So they tried to stop the people from bringing them, but Jesus allowed the children to come to him. He wanted to bless them. He said that the people whom God rules should be like children. The text does not say exactly how they should be like children. Some possibilities are that God’s people should have humble faith like children, they should depend on God, and they should humbly accept God’s authority to rule their lives.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it. Some examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus Blesses Little Children (GNT)

The kingdom is for people who are like children

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 19:13–15 and Mark 10:13–16.

18:15a

Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus

¶ People were also bringing their babies to Jesus
¶ Some parents came to Jesus with their little/young children

Now: The event in this section may not have happened during the same time period as the preceding section. Luke may have told about it here because it illustrated what Jesus taught in that section. Luke introduces this event with a Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Now to indicate that this verse part provides background information. In some languages it may be natural to begin this section with a general time phrase. For example:

One day (NLT)

people were even bringing: The Greek word that the BSB translates as people were…bringing is more literally “they were bringing.” The RSV and several other English versions translate it that way. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply a general subject that includes both men and women. For example:

some parents (NLT)

Some people (GW)

even…their babies to Jesus: The common Greek word that the BSB translates as even here probably emphasizes babies.This word is kai. Several versions translate it here as “even,” including the BSB, NJB, RSV, NASB, NET, and NCV. Other versions, including NIV, KJV, GNT, REB, CEV, and GW, do not translate with “even.” A number of commentators mention the emphatic nature of kai here. For example, Johnson (p. 275) says, “Luke uses brephe (‘infants’) and the kai is emphatic (perhaps because of this word choice).” Nolland (p. 881) says, “Jesus welcomes infants and challenges all to receive the preaching of the kingdom of God in a childlike manner….Luke makes the Markan point yet more extreme…by adding kai, ‘even’.” Green says, “Luke’s phrase ‘even infants’ draws attention to the particular vulnerability of the smallest of children, perhaps accounting for the widespread practice of infanticide and child abandonment—and, thus, for the suitability of the infant as a particularly effective example of the lowliness accented in verses 9–14.” A few commentators, including Arndt (p. 381) and Reiling and Swellengrebel (pp. 602–603), mention that the kai could imply “also, in addition to sick people.” This seems more unlikely, since sick people are not mentioned in the near context. The babies were another group of humble people like the tax collector in 18:9–14. Jesus welcomed even babies, who had no status in the society. Another way to translate this emphasis in English is:

they were bringing even infants to him (RSV)

In some languages the emphasis may be difficult to translate or it may imply a wrong meaning. If that is true in your language, you may choose not to translate this word. For example:

Some people brought their babies to Jesus (GNT)

their babies: The Greek word that the BSB translates as babies refers to infants or very young children. It was normally used of children who still needed their parents to carry them. However, it could include other young children as well.

18:15b

for Him to place His hands on them.

so that he would lay/place his hands on them to bless them.
to ask/beg him to give them his/God’s blessing.

for Him to place His hands on them: The phrase for Him to place His hands on them tells the purpose for the people bringing children to Jesus. Other ways to translate this purpose are:

for him to touch (REB)

so he could touch them (NCV)

In this context place…hands on is a symbolic action. It refers to giving a blessing. In Jewish culture, parents often brought a young child to a religious leader so that he could bless the child. When the leader gave the blessing, he would place his hands on the child’s head and pray for him.Jewish leaders usually touched people on the head when they prayed that God would bless them.

In some areas people may not understand the special meaning of the phrase place His hands on in this context. If that is true in your area, some other ways to translate it are:

Translate the action and make the meaning explicit. For example:
to touch them and bless them
to put his hand on their heads and ask God to be good/kind to them
Translate only the meaning of the action. For example:
to bless them
to give them God’s/his blessing
to ask God to favor them

For more information, see bless, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.

18:15c

And when the disciples saw this,

The disciples saw what was happening
When his followers saw this,

And when the disciples saw this: The word this refers to people bringing little children to Jesus. Other ways to translate the clause are:

But when his disciples saw them doing this (CEV)

when the disciples saw them (REB)

18:15d

they rebuked those who brought them.

and scolded the people.
they told the parents not to bring their little/young children to Jesus.
they said to the parents, “You^(plur) should not bring your children to Jesus like this.”

they rebuked those who brought them: The phrase they rebuked those who brought them indicates that Jesus’ disciples spoke sternly to the parents. They told them that they should not bring their babies to Jesus. For example:

they told them to stop (NCV)

they told the people not to do that (GW)

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

…but the disciples said to the parents, “Do not bring the children/babies to him.”

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-time-background

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσέφερον Δέ αὐτῷ καί τά βρέφη ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται ἰδόντες δέ οἱ μαθηταί ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς)

Luke uses the word And to begin relating a new event by introducing background information that will help readers understand what happens. Alternate translation: [Now]

Note 2 topic: writing-pronouns

προσέφερον & αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ βρέφη

˱they˲_˓were˒_bringing & ˱to˲_him (Some words not found in SR-GNT: προσέφερον Δέ αὐτῷ καί τά βρέφη ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται ἰδόντες δέ οἱ μαθηταί ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς)

Here, they refers to people in general. Alternate translation: [people were bringing their children to Jesus, even their newborns]

Note 3 topic: translate-symaction

ἵνα αὐτῶν ἅπτηται

in_order_that ˱against˲_them ˱he˲_˓may_be˒_touching

If Jesus would touch the babies, this would express God’s love for them and convey God’s blessing to them. Alternate translation: [so that he could put his hands on them and bless them]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐπετίμων αὐτοῖς

˓were˒_giving_rebuke ˱to˲_them

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state more explicitly what this means. Alternate translation: [tried to stop the parents from bringing their children to Jesus]

Parallel LUKE 18:15

Section 18:15–17: People should enter God’s kingdom humbly like children

18:15a

18:15b

18:15c

18:15d