Mark 10:44
New International Version
and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

New Living Translation
and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.

English Standard Version
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

Berean Standard Bible
and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.

Berean Literal Bible
and whoever desires to become first among you will be slave of all.

King James Bible
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

New King James Version
And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

New American Standard Bible
and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all.

NASB 1995
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

NASB 1977
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

Legacy Standard Bible
and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

Amplified Bible
and whoever wishes to be first and most important among you must be slave of all.

Christian Standard Bible
and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all.

American Standard Version
and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.

Contemporary English Version
And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave.

English Revised Version
and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever wants to be most important among you will be a slave for everyone.

Good News Translation
and if one of you wants to be first, you must be the slave of all.

International Standard Version
and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to everyone,

Majority Standard Bible
and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.

NET Bible
and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all.

New Heart English Bible
And whoever wants to be first among you must be slave of all.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whoever of you will be the chief, shall be servant of all.

Weymouth New Testament
and whoever desires to be first among you must be the bondservant of all.

World English Bible
Whoever of you wants to become first among you shall be bondservant of all.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and whoever of you may will to become first, he will be servant of all;

Berean Literal Bible
and whoever desires to become first among you will be slave of all.

Young's Literal Translation
and whoever of you may will to become first, he shall be servant of all;

Smith's Literal Translation
And whoever of you should wish to be the first, he shall be the servant of all.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and whoever will be first among you shall be the servant of all.

New American Bible
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

New Revised Standard Version
and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And anyone of you who wishes to be first, let him be a servant of every man.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And he among you who wants to be the first will be a servant to all.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and whoever among you desires to be first, shall be servant of all.

Godbey New Testament
and whosoever of you may wish to be first, shall be the slave of all:

Haweis New Testament
and whosoever will be first, let him be the servant of all.

Mace New Testament
and whoever would be the chief, he must be the slave of all the rest.

Weymouth New Testament
and whoever desires to be first among you must be the bondservant of all.

Worrell New Testament
and whosoever wishes to be first among you shall be servant of all:

Worsley New Testament
and whoever of you would be first shall be servant of all.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Request of James and John
43But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”…

Cross References
Matthew 20:26-28
It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 22:26-27
But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. / For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

Philippians 2:5-7
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: / Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.

John 13:14-15
So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. / I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

Matthew 23:11-12
The greatest among you shall be your servant. / For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.

Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Isaiah 53:11
After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4
The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORD are wealth and honor and life.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.


Treasury of Scripture

And whoever of you will be the most chief, shall be servant of all.

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Bondman Bondservant Chief Chiefest Desire Desires First Servant Slave Wants Wishes
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Bondman Bondservant Chief Chiefest Desire Desires First Servant Slave Wants Wishes
Mark 10
1. Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13. blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17. resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23. tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28. promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32. foretells his death and resurrection;
35. bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46. and restores to Bartimaeus his sight.














and whoever wants
This phrase indicates a desire or ambition. In the Greek, the word for "wants" is "θέλει" (thelei), which implies a deliberate choice or intention. This suggests that the path to greatness in the Kingdom of God is not accidental but requires a conscious decision. Historically, ambition was often associated with power and dominance, but Jesus redefines it here, emphasizing a different kind of aspiration.

to be first
The Greek word for "first" is "πρῶτος" (protos), which means foremost in time, place, order, or importance. In the context of the Roman and Jewish cultures of the time, being first was associated with honor, privilege, and authority. Jesus challenges this cultural norm by redefining what it means to be first in the Kingdom of God, suggesting that true greatness is not about status but about service.

must be
This phrase indicates a necessity or requirement. The Greek word "ἔσται" (estai) is a form of "to be," suggesting an essential transformation or condition. In the Christian life, this transformation is not optional but a fundamental aspect of discipleship. It reflects the call to conform to the image of Christ, who exemplified servanthood.

the slave
The term "slave" is translated from the Greek word "δοῦλος" (doulos), which refers to a bondservant or one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another. In the ancient world, a slave had no rights or personal autonomy. Jesus uses this term to illustrate the radical nature of Christian leadership and service, where one willingly submits to the needs of others, reflecting the humility and selflessness of Christ.

of all
This phrase expands the scope of servitude to include everyone, not just a select few. The Greek word "πάντων" (pantōn) means all or every. This universality underscores the comprehensive nature of Christian service. In the historical context, this was a revolutionary idea, as social hierarchies were deeply entrenched. Jesus calls His followers to break down these barriers and serve all people, regardless of status or position.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

whoever
ὃς (hos)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

wants
θέλῃ (thelē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

to be
εἶναι (einai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

first
πρῶτος (prōtos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.

must be
ἔσται (estai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] slave
δοῦλος (doulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

of all.
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.


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NT Gospels: Mark 10:44 Whoever of you wants to become first (Mar Mk Mr)
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