Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
and said, "Truly I tell you, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless you turn [your life around] and become like little children [i.e., having child-like humility].
New American Standard Bible
and said,
King James Version
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Holman Bible
International Standard Version
Then he said, "I tell all of you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom from heaven.
A Conservative Version
And he said, Truly I say to you, if ye are not turned, and become as children, ye will, no, not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
American Standard Version
and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Amplified
and said,
Anderson New Testament
and said: Verily I say to you, Unless you turn and become as little children, you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Bible in Basic English
And said, Truly, I say to you, If you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven.
Common New Testament
and he said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Daniel Mace New Testament
and said, I declare to you, except ye lay aside your ambition, and become as children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of the Messias.
Darby Translation
and said, Verily I say to you, Unless ye are converted and become as little children, ye will not at all enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Godbey New Testament
and said, Truly I say unto you, unless you may be converted, and become as little children, you can not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Goodspeed New Testament
and he said, "I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all.
John Wesley New Testament
And said, Verily I say to you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Julia Smith Translation
And said, Truly I say to you, Except ye be turned, and become as young children, ye should not come into the kingdom of the heavens.
King James 2000
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lexham Expanded Bible
and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn around and become like young children, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven!
Modern King James verseion
and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
and said, "Verily, I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Moffatt New Testament
and said, "I tell you truly, unless you turn and become like children, you will never get into the Realm of heaven at all.
Montgomery New Testament
"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.
NET Bible
and said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
New Heart English Bible
and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Noyes New Testament
and said, Truly do I say to you, Unless ye are changed, and become as children, ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Sawyer New Testament
and said, I tell you truly, that if you do not turn and become like little children, you can by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The Emphasized Bible
and said - Verily, I say unto you, Except ye turn and become as the children, in nowise, shall ye enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be changed and be as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Twentieth Century New Testament
"I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven at all.
Webster
And said, Verily I say to you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Weymouth New Testament
said, "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens.
Williams New Testament
and said: "I solemnly say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you can never get into the kingdom of heaven at all.
World English Bible
and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Worrell New Testament
and said, "Verily I say to you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Worsley New Testament
and said, Verily I declare unto you, unless ye be converted, and become like little children, ye shall never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Youngs Literal Translation
and said, 'Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;
Themes
Apostles » Moral state of, before pentecost
Babes » A symbol of the children of the kingdom of heaven
Children » Symbolical of the regenerated
Children » Good » Character of, illustrates conversion
Good Children » Spirit of, a requisite for the kingdom of heaven
Christ and children » Declared that a childlike spirit is absolutely essential in religion
Conversion » Those that are not converted
Conversion » General references to » Essential to entrance into God's kingdom
Despisement » Who not to despise
Divine Requirements » Spiritual necessities emphasized by Christ » A childlike spirit
Heaven/the heavens » Who shall be great in the kingdom of heaven
Jesus and children » Declared that a childlike spirit is absolutely essential in religion
Jesus Christ » Kingdom of » Its nature
Jesus Christ » Secular notions concerning the kingdom of
Kingdom of God » Who shall be great in the kingdom of God
Kingdom of heaven » Children of the
Offense » Those that offend people who believe in Christ
Receiving » Who receives jesus Christ and the one who sent him
Receiving » Those that receive a child in the name of jesus Christ
Righteous » Compared with » Little children
compared to Saints » Little children
Spiritual » Spiritual necessities emphasized by Christ » A childlike spirit
Topics
Interlinear
References
Watsons
Word Count of 37 Translations in Matthew 18:3
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Question About Who Is Greatest
2 So, He called to Him a little child and placed him in front of them, 3 and said, "Truly I tell you, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven unless you turn [your life around] and become like little children [i.e., having child-like humility]. 4 Therefore, the person who will humble himself, as this little child, is the most important person in the kingdom of heaven.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
Mark 10:14-15
But when Jesus saw it, He was moved with [righteous] indignation, and said to them, "Allow these little children to come to me and stop trying to prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such [humble ones. See Matt. 18:4].
1 Peter 2:2
[So], like newly born babies, you should desire the genuine, spiritual milk [i.e., God's word. See Heb. 5:12-13], so that by it you may grow toward [final] salvation,
1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, do not be children in the way you think, but be babies in wrongdoing; yet be mature in your thinking.
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, "Allow these little children to come to me and stop trying to prevent them. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such [humble ones] as these." [See 18:4].
Matthew 5:20
For I say to you people, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless what you do that is right excels what the experts in the law of Moses and the Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] do that is right.
Luke 18:16-17
But Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, "Allow these little children to come to me and stop trying to prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these [i.e., humble ones. See Matt. 19:14].
Luke 22:32
But I prayed earnestly for you, that your faith would not fail [to be strong]. And when you have turned back [i.e., from going astray briefly], provide [spiritual] support to your brothers."
Matthew 5:18
For it is true when I say, not one little letter or even a portion of a letter will be removed from the law of Moses until everything is accomplished [that is required by them]. [When that happens, then] heaven and earth will pass away [i.e., be destroyed. See II Peter 3:12].
Matthew 6:2
"Therefore, when you give money to help poor people, do not blow a trumpet in front of you [i.e., to call attention to it] as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets. They do this in order to win praise from people. It is true when I say to you, they have [already] received their reward.
Matthew 6:5
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners [i.e., in prominent view of everyone] in order to be seen [and praised] by people.
Matthew 6:16
"In addition, when you fast [i.e., go without food and/or drink for religious reasons], do not be like the hypocrites with long faces, for they go around with gloomy expressions on their faces in order to advertise that they are fasting. It is true when I say to you, these people have [already] received their reward.
Matthew 13:15
For these people's minds are dull, and their ears have difficulty hearing, and they have shut their eyes. For if this were not the case, they would perceive what they see with their eyes, and comprehend what they hear with their ears, and understand with their minds and would turn [back to God] again so I would heal them [from their sins].'
Matthew 19:23
Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 4:12
This is so that even though they see, they will see and yet not perceive. And even though they hear, they will hear and yet not understand. For if they did, they would turn [back to God] again and receive forgiveness."
Luke 13:24
"You should try hard to enter [God's kingdom] by means of the narrow door, for I tell you, many people will try to enter it but will not be able to.
John 1:51
Then Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened up and the angels of God going up [from] and coming down on the Son of man" [i.e., probably a reference to angels ministering to Jesus' needs. See Matt. 4:6, 11; Luke 22:43].
John 3:3
Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth].
John 3:5
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot enter the kingdom of God unless he is born out of water and the Holy Spirit.
Acts 3:19
Therefore, you people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and turn [back] again [to God] so that your sins will be blotted out and so that you may enjoy times of [spiritual] refreshment from the presence of the Lord [i.e., through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit].
Acts 14:22
[Along the way] they strengthened the hearts of the disciples, urging them to continue [to believe and practice] the faith and [explaining] that entering God's [heavenly] kingdom [See II Tim. 4:18] requires enduring many trials.
Acts 28:27
For these people's minds are dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes. For, if this were not the case, they would perceive what they see with their eyes, and understand what they hear with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and would turn [back to God] again and I [God] would heal them [from their sins].'
James 5:19-20
My brothers, if anyone among you strays away from the truth [of God's inspired message], and someone brings him back [to it],
2 Peter 1:11
For in this way, you will be provided with a rich welcome into the never ending kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ [i.e., in heaven].