^9:33Then⁴⁵ they came to Capernaum.⁴⁶ After Jesus⁴⁷ was inside the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” ^9:34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ^9:35After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” ^9:36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ^9:37“Whoever welcomes⁴⁸ one of these little children⁴⁹ in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

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Mark 9:35: And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Footnotes

45 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
46 For location see ; ; .
47 Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
48 This verb, δέχομαι (dechomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).
49 Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

He took a little child whom he placed 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 does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”

NLTNew Living Translation

After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And they came to Capernaum. And after he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they were silent, because they had argued with one another on the way about who was greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.” And he took a young child and had him stand among them. And taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of the young children such as these in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but the one who sent me.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

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