Matthew 19:13
New International Version
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

New Living Translation
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

English Standard Version
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

Berean Standard Bible
Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Berean Literal Bible
Then little children were brought to Him, that He might lay the hands on them, and might pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

King James Bible
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

New King James Version
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

New American Standard Bible
Then some children were brought to Him so that He would lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

NASB 1995
Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

NASB 1977
Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

Amplified Bible
Then children were brought to Jesus so that He might place His hands on them [for a blessing] and pray; but the disciples reprimanded them.

Christian Standard Bible
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then children were brought to Him so He might put His hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

American Standard Version
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Contemporary English Version
Some people brought their children to Jesus, so he could place his hands on them and pray for them. His disciples told the people to stop bothering him.

English Revised Version
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then 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.

Good News Translation
Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them, but the disciples scolded the people.

International Standard Version
Then some little children were brought to him so that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

NET Bible
Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them.

New Heart English Bible
Then little children were brought to him, that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then were brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

Weymouth New Testament
Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.

World English Bible
Then little children were brought to him that he should lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then were brought near to Him children that He might put hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them.

Berean Literal Bible
Then little children were brought to Him, that He might lay the hands on them, and might pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

Young's Literal Translation
Then were brought near to him children that he might put hands on them and pray, and the disciples rebuked them.

Smith's Literal Translation
Then young children were brought to him, that he might put hands upon them and pray: and the disciples censured them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then they brought to him little children, so that he would place his hands upon them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.

New American Bible
Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them,

New Revised Standard Version
Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then they brought little boys to him, that he may lay his hand on them and pray; and his disciples rebuked them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they brought children to him that he might lay his hand upon them and pray, and his disciples rebuked them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then little children were brought to him, that he might lay his hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.

Godbey New Testament
Then little children were brought to Him, that He might put His hands on them, and pray. And the disciples rebuked them.

Haweis New Testament
Then were brought to him little children, that he should lay his hands upon them, and pray for them: but the disciples rebuked them.

Mace New Testament
Then they brought children to him in order to have his blessing: and the disciples rebuked them.

Weymouth New Testament
Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.

Worrell New Testament
Then were brought to Him little children, that He might put His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.

Worsley New Testament
Then were brought to Him little children, that He might put his hands upon them, and bless them: and the disciples rebuked them;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Blesses the Children
12For there are eunuchs who were born that way; others were made that way by men; and still others live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” 13Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”…

Cross References
Mark 10:13-16
Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. / But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ...

Luke 18:15-17
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. / 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. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Matthew 18:2-5
Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. / “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. / Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ...

Mark 9:36-37
Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, / “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”

Luke 9:47-48
But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him. / And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

Matthew 21:15-16
But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” / “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”

Psalm 127:3
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Isaiah 54:13
Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their prosperity.

Genesis 48:14-16
But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn. / Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, / the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. / And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. / “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ...

2 Kings 4:26-37
Please run out now to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” And she answered, “Everything is all right.” / When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” / Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” ...

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Matthew 18:10
See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.


Treasury of Scripture

Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

brought.

Matthew 18:2-5
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, …

Genesis 48:1,9-20
And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim…

1 Samuel 1:24
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

and the.

Matthew 16:22
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

Matthew 20:31
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

Luke 9:49,50,54,55
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us…

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Matthew 19
1. Jesus heals the sick;
3. answers the Pharisees concerning divorce;
10. shows when marriage is necessary;
13. receives the little children;
16. instructs the young man how to attain eternal life;
20. and how to be perfect;
23. tells his disciples how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God;
27. and promises reward to those who forsake all to follow him.














Then little children
The Greek word for "little children" here is "παιδία" (paidia), which refers to young children, possibly infants or toddlers. In the cultural context of the time, children were often seen as insignificant in the social hierarchy. However, Jesus' attention to them highlights the value He places on the innocent and humble, emphasizing that the kingdom of heaven is accessible to those who approach with childlike faith and humility.

were brought to Jesus
The act of bringing children to Jesus signifies the faith and hope of the parents or guardians. In the Jewish tradition, it was customary to bring children to a rabbi for a blessing. This reflects the belief in Jesus' authority and the desire for His blessing, acknowledging Him as a spiritual leader and a source of divine favor.

for Him to place His hands on them
The laying on of hands is a significant biblical gesture, symbolizing blessing, healing, and the impartation of grace. In the Old Testament, this act was often associated with the transfer of authority or blessing (e.g., Genesis 48:14). Here, it underscores Jesus' role as a mediator of God's blessing and His willingness to engage personally with the least in society.

and pray for them
Prayer in this context is an intercessory act, seeking God's favor and protection over the children. It reflects the importance of prayer in the life of believers and the belief in its power to invoke divine intervention and blessing. Jesus' willingness to pray for the children demonstrates His compassion and His role as an intercessor.

but the disciples rebuked them
The disciples' rebuke likely stems from a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and priorities. They might have thought that Jesus' time was too valuable to be spent on children, reflecting societal norms that undervalued children. This rebuke serves as a reminder of the disciples' ongoing need for spiritual growth and understanding of Jesus' inclusive love and mission.

(13) Then were there brought unto him little children.--St. Luke (Luke 18:15) uses a word which implies infancy. The fact that they were brought (we may assume by their mothers) indicates that there was something in our Lord's look and manner that attracted children, and impressed their parents with the feeling that He loved them. That feeling, we may well believe, was deepened by His acts and words when He had taken in His arms the child whom He set before His disciples as a pattern of the true greatness of humility, and taught them that the angels of those little ones beheld the face of His Father (Matthew 18:10). The motives of the disciples in rebuking those that brought them, may, in like manner, be connected with what they had just heard from their Master's lips. What interest, they might have thought, could He have in these infants, when He had in those words appeared to claim for the "eunuch" life a special dignity and honour? What could the pressing claims of mothers and their children be to Him but a trouble and vexation, interfering with the higher life of meditation and of prayer?

Verses 13-15. - Benediction of little children. (Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17.) Verse 13. - Christ, having laid his blessing on marriage, now blesses its fruit. Then. This happened directly after the preceding conversation. Mothers were won to his side by his elevation of woman to her true position, and his marked tenderness to children. Little children (παιδία). St. Luke calls them τὰ βρέφη, "their infants." These were babes whom the mothers carried in their arms, and who were too young to understand the meaning and importance of the act of Christ in blessing them. It was a custom to take infants to the synagogues, that they might receive the prayers and blessings of the rabbis, or holy men. For this reason they were brought to Christ as a holy and revered Teacher. That he should put his hands on them, and pray. The laying on of hands was symbolical of blessing (see Genesis 48:14; Numbers 27:23). From the Jewish it passed into the Christian Church (Acts 6:5), and continues unto this day to be used on various solemn occasions. The disciples rebuked them. More definitely in St. Mark, "rebuked those that brought them." Why they did so is not quite obvious. Either they thought that it was beneath Christ's dignity, and a waste of his precious time to attend to these babes; or, being still of imperfect faith, they did not realize that any spiritual good could proceed from the imposition of Christ's hands upon unconscious and irresponsive infants. They had seen him cure bodily diseases with a touch, and they would have welcomed these little ones it' they had been brought to be healed of some obvious maladies; what they could not understand was that these irrational creatures, not possessed of faith, could be the recipients of Divine blessing. Christ, by word and action, teaches another lesson. St. Mark adds that Jesus was "much displeased" at the disciples' faithless interference. St. Luke tells us that he "called them [the babes] unto him," making his followers desist from their officious remonstrance, and said the memorable words which are given almost without variation by the three synoptists.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

[the] little children
παιδία (paidia)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

were brought
προσηνέχθησαν (prosēnechthēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4374: From pros and phero; to bear towards, i.e. Lead to, tender, treat.

to [Jesus]
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

for
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

Him to place
ἐπιθῇ (epithē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2007: To put, place upon, lay on; I add, give in addition. From epi and tithemi; to impose.

[His] hands
χεῖρας (cheiras)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495: A hand.

on them
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

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

pray [for them];
προσεύξηται (proseuxētai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.

and
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

rebuked
ἐπετίμησαν (epetimēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2008: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid.

those [who brought them].
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 19:13 Then little children were brought to him (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 19:12
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