^19:13Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray.¹⁶ But the disciples scolded those who brought them.¹⁷^19:14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”¹⁸^19:15And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.¹⁹

Read in Logos

Footnotes

16 Grk “so that he would lay his hands on them and pray.”
17 Grk “the disciples scolded them.” In the translation the referent has been specified as “those who brought them,” since otherwise the statement could be understood to mean that the disciples scolded the children rather than their parents who brought them.
18 The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.
19 Grk “went from there.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Leave the little children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.

NLTNew 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.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Then children were brought to him so that he could lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Allow the children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and traveled on from there.

KJV 1900King James Version

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Public Domain