Mark 10:15 ...Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child...

Some people bring their children to him and his apostles try to stop them.

KJV: 

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

NIV : 

Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Amen, I tell you, whoever doesn't welcome the realm of the Divine as much as a little child should  never enter into it.

MY TAKE: 

We welcome the realm of the Divine when we display it.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

ἀμὴν    λέγω ὑμῖν, ὃς ἂν             μὴ δέξηται   τὴν βασιλείαν    τοῦ θεοῦ   ὡς                   παιδίον,
Amen, I tell  you, whoever does-n't welcome the realm       of the Divine as much as a little child

οὐ μὴ        εἰσέλθῃ         εἰς   αὐτήν.
never should  enter        into it.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This is identical to Luke 18:17  though the KJV translations are slightly different. 

The Greek word translated as "receive" has a double or triple meaning. It could be the Greek word means "welcome" with regard to people and "accept" when referring to things. The question is whether or not the "kingdom of God" is a thing or a person.  While "the kingdom" may seem to be a thing, the Greek word also means "kingship." This word could also be another Greek verb that means "show" or "display." This word, if it was meant, is only used by Jesus herre and in the version in Luke.

The two "nots" in the KJV are different Greek constructions, The first "not" indicates a negative opinion because it is in a conditional clause, something that might happen. The second a combination of both the objective ad subjective two words forming a more extreme negative.

The "enter" seems to indicate that the "kingdom" is a place and therefore a thing, but the verb also means "entering into the mind," which seems to indicate welcoming an idea. This is in the form of something that "should" or "might happen."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

7
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "receive."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word - This "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- The "therein" does not capture the word's specific meaning in this situation.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

11
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "anyone."
  • WF -- Wrong Form -  This form of word does not create a conditional (if/when/whoever) clause.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "who" doesn't exist in the source.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a "when/if/whoever" clause.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "receive."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the/this" before "God" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "will" indicates the future tense, but that is not the tense here.
  • MW -- Missing Word -- This verb is a subjunctive, which requires a "should" or "might" when outside of a "when/if/whoever" clause.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "into" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

Verily  -  The word translated as "verily" is the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap."   The "verily" phrase is used frequently by Jesus as a personal signature. Its vocabulary and meaning are discussed in detail in this article.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

say The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching.

unto -- This is from the form of the following pronoun as an indicated object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you", "for you", etc. 

Whosoever-- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing.

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. This verb could be a future tense, but the conditional clause demands a form of possibility.

not-- The negative used here is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. If not used with a verb of subjective action--thinking, feeling, seeing, etc.--its sense is that "not wanting" or "thinking" something, not that it isn't done or thought.   Used in negative conditional "when/if/whoever" clauses. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words. 

receive -- (CW)"Receive" can be two different Greek terms.  The Greek verb that the KJV prefers means "welcome"when applied to people and "take" or "accept" when applied to things. But it could also be another Greek verb that "bring to light" and "exhibit". In both cases, it is not the future tense, but a form that indicates a possibility at some point in time. This is not the word usually translated as "through."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article,.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

kingdom The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will. This concept as "the kingdom of heaven" is discussed in more detail in this article.

of -- This comes from the form of the following article and noun.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God" or "the Divine".  Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. This is an example of the near parallel "kingdom of heave" in Matthew 18:3 is turned into the "kingdom of God" here.

as  - The word translated as "as" has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like," and related words.

- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

little child, The Greek word translated as "a little child" means "little child" and refers to children younger than seven. It is one of several words Jesus uses to refer to children, see this article.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

shall -- (CW) This helping verb "shall" does not indicate the future tense, but that the verb describes a possibility, the subjunctive voice. A "might" or "should" in English is more appropriate, but is assumed in an "if/when/whoever/except" clause. Helping verbs are not needed in Greek since the main verb carries this information in its form.

not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying "you cannot really think."

enter "Ye shall enter" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."  The "shall" does not indicate the future tense. The form of the verb  is the form of possibility that can happen at any time, past, present, or future.

therein. -- (CW) "Therein" is two Greek words meaning "into it". The word translated as "there-" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  Its form matches the Greek "kingdom
 so "it." The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context. As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement. The word translated as "--in" means "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure. It means "into" more than "in." These are not the words that mean "there" or "in."   This is not the specific meaning of these words in this situation.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Truly -- The word translated as "truly " is from the Hebrew word that means "truly" or "certainly," but it sounds like the Greek word with the same meaning. In Greek, the word also means "to reap." See this article discussing this "amen phrase."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the following verb.

tell -- The word translated as "say" is the most common word that means "to say," and "to speak," but it also means "to teach," which seems to be the way Christ uses it more frequently. It also has many ancillary meanings such as "to count" ("to number" or like we might say, "to recount" a story) or "to choose for yourself." Christ usually uses this word to refer to his own speaking or teaching. The form of the verb could also be a possible action, "might tell" or "should tell."

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc.

anyone -- (CW, WF) "Anyone" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing. This form of word does not create a conditional (if/when/whoever) clause.

who -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "who" in the Greek source

will  -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future. This verb could be a future tense, but the conditional clause demands a form of possibility.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if," "when," "whoever" and other conditional clauses. This wouldn't be necessary if the clause began with a "whoever" instead of a "anyone who." 

not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

receive -- (CW)"Receive" can be two different Greek terms.  The Greek verb that the KJV prefers means "welcome"when applied to people and "take" or "accept" when applied to things. But it could also be another Greek verb that "bring to light" and "exhibit". In both cases, it is not the future tense, but a form that indicates a possibility at some point in time. This is not the word usually translated as "through."

the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article,.The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this", "that", "these", "those"). See this article for more. 

kingdom The word translated as "kingdom" can be the region, the reign, the castle or the authority of a ruler. Christ does not seem to use it to mean a physical region, so its translation as "reign" or "realm" seems more appropriate. This is especially true because the "reign" of a king means the execution of his will. This concept as "the kingdom of heaven" is discussed in more detail in this article.

of -- This comes from the form of the following article and noun.

missing "the/this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article," the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," and "those"). See this article for more. 

God The word translated as "God" means "God" and "deity." It is introduced with an article, so "the God" or "the Divine".  Jesus often uses it this way perhaps to indicate the one God as opposed to the pagan gods.as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. This is an example of the near parallel "kingdom of heave" in Matthew 18:3 is turned into the "kingdom of God" here.

like - The word translated as "like " has a very broad meaning, translating as "how", "when", "where", "just as", "like," and related words.

- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

little child, The Greek word translated as "a little child" means "little child" and refers to children younger than seven. It is one of several words Jesus uses to refer to children, see this article.

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

will  -- (WT) This helping verb "will" indicates the future tense, but the verb is not the future.

missing "should" or "might"-- (MW) A helping verb is necessary because the following verb is a verb of possibility, a subjunctive, something that "should" or "might" occur. The helping verb is not needed in a clause beginning with an "if," "when," "whoever" and other conditional clauses.

never -- The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying "you cannot really think."

enter  - "Enter" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."  The "shall" does not indicate the future tense. The form of the verb  is the form of possibility that can happen at any time, past, present, or future.

missing "into"  -- (MW) The untranslated word   "into" a place, "towards" as a direction, "in regards to" a subject, and "up to" limits in time and measure. It means "into" more than "in." These are not the words that mean "there" or "in."   This is not the specific meaning of these words in this situation.

it  -- -- The word translated as "it" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English in the form of a singular object of a verb or preposition. It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, and here refers to "kingdom." As the object of a preposition, an accusative object indicates movement towards something or a position reached as a result of that movement

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

Ἀμὴν [88 verses](exclaim) "Verily" is amen, which is the Hebrew, meaning "truly," "of a truth," and "so be it." It has no history in Greek of this meaning before the NT. However, this is also the infinitive form of the Greek verb amao, which means "to reap" or "to cut."

λέγω [264 verses](1st sg pres ind act/subj) "I say" is lego, which means "to recount," "to tell over," "to say," "to speak," "to teach," "to mean," "boast of," "tell of," "recite," nominate," and "command." It has a secondary meaning "pick out," "choose for oneself," "pick up," "gather," "count," and "recount." A less common word that is spelled the same means "to lay," "to lay asleep" and "to lull asleep."

ὑμῖν, [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ὃς ἂν [36 verses](pron sg masc nom)(partic) This is a special construction that means "whoever" "whatever," or "who if any."  It combines the relative pronoun (hos) or the demostrative pronoun (hostis) with the particle of possibility (an). The literal sense is "this one might." Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual. whosoever-- "Whoever" is from a special construction connecting a pronoun with a conditional particle. Together, they begin a relative, conditional clause that refers to each individual person or thing.

μὴ [447 verses](conj) "Not" is me , which is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective. With pres. or aor. subj. used in a warning or statement of fear, "take care" It can be the conjunction "lest" or "for fear that." Used before tis with an imperative to express a will or wish for something in independent sentences and, with subjunctives, to express prohibitions. Used with infinitives that express a purpose.

δέξηται  [18 verses]( verb 3rd sg aor subj mid ) "Receive" is dechomai,  which means "welcome", "accept," and "entertain" when applied to people. It means "take", "accept," and "receive" when applied to things. OR [2 verses]( verb 3rd sg aor subj mid ) deiknumi, which means "bring to light", "show forth", show, point out, display, and "exhibit". 

τὴν [821 verses] (article sg fem acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

βασιλείαν [98 verses](noun sg fem acc) "Kingdom" is basileia, which means "kingdom", "dominion", "hereditary monarchy", "kingly office," (passive) "being ruled by a king," and "reign."

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

θεοῦ [144 verses](noun sg masc gen) "God" is theos, which means "God," "divine," and "Deity."

ὡς (167 verses](adv/conj) "How" is hos, an adverb which means to "thus," "as," "how," "when," "where," "like," "just as," "so far as," "as much as can be," "that," "in order that," "nearly (with numbers)," and "know that."

παιδίον, [821 verses]( noun sg neut acc) "A little child" is from paidion. which means "little child" or "young child," (up to seven years) "infant" or "young slave."

οὐ μὴ [39 verses](partic) "not" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

εἰσέλθῃ [68 verses](verb 3rd sg aor subj act)  "Enter into" is eiserchomai, which means both "to go into", "to come in", "to enter", "to enter an office", "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind."

εἰς [325 verses](prep) "--in" is eis, which means "into (of place)," "up to (of time)", "until (of time)", "as much as (of measure or limit)", "as far as (of measure or limit)", "towards (to express relation)", "in regard to (to express relation)", "of an end or limit," and "for (of purpose or object)."

αὐτὴν [39 verses]((adj sg fem acc) "There"  is auten, in the form of the singular, object, feminine pronoun "her/it." It refers to feminine nouns not just female people, so it is translated as both "she" or "it" depending on the context.

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Jul 4 2023