KJV: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
YLT: whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.
Darby: Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens;
ASV: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
| ὅστις | Whoever |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὅστις Sense: whoever, whatever, who. |
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| ταπεινώσει | will humble |
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Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ταπεινόω Sense: to make low, bring low. |
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| ἑαυτὸν | himself |
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Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: ἑαυτοῦ Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves. |
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| παιδίον | little child |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: παιδίον Sense: a young child, a little boy, a little girl. |
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| τοῦτο | this |
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Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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| μείζων | greatest |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular, Comparative Root: μέγας Sense: great. |
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| βασιλείᾳ | kingdom |
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Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: βασιλεία Sense: royal power, kingship, dominion, rule. |
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| τῶν | of the |
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Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| οὐρανῶν | heavens |
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Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural Root: οὐρανός Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it. |
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Greek Commentary for Matthew 18:4
This saying about humbling oneself Jesus repeated a number of times as for instance in Matthew 23:12. Probably Jesus pointed to the child by his side. The ninth-century story that the child was Ignatius is worthless. It is not that the child humbled himself, but that the child is humble from the nature of the case in relation to older persons. That is true, however “bumptious” the child himself may be. Bruce observes that to humble oneself is “the most difficult thing in the world for saint as for sinner.” [source]
Not, as this little child humbles himself, but, shall make himself humble as this little child is lowly; shall willingly become by spiritual process what the child is by nature. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 18:4
The αρα ara seems to point back to the tax-collection incident when Jesus had claimed exemption for them all as “sons” of the Father. But it was not a new dispute, for jealousy had been growing in their hearts. The wonderful words of Jesus to Peter on Mount Hermon (Matthew 16:17-19) had evidently made Peter feel a fresh sense of leadership on the basis of which he had dared even to rebuke Jesus for speaking of his death (Matthew 16:22). And then Peter was one of the three (James and John also) taken with the Master up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter on that occasion had spoken up promptly. And just now the tax-collectors had singled out Peter as the one who seemed to represent the group. Mark (Mark 9:33) represents Jesus as asking them about their dispute on the way into the house, perhaps just after their question in Matthew 18:1. Jesus had noticed the wrangling. It will break out again and again (Matthew 20:20-28; Luke 22:24). Plainly the primacy of Peter was not yet admitted by the others. The use of the comparative μειζων meizōn (so ο μειζων ho meizōn in Matthew 18:4) rather than the superlative μεγιστος megistos is quite in accord with the Koiné idiom where the comparative is displacing the superlative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 667ff.). But it is a sad discovery to find the disciples chiefly concerned about their own places (offices) in the political kingdom which they were expecting. [source]
Somewhat like Matthew 18:4; Matthew 20:26. Given by Luke in other contexts (Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14). Characteristic of Christ. [source]
First aorist passive imperative of ταπεινοω tapeinoō old verb from ταπεινος tapeinos (James 1:9), as in Matthew 18:4. The passive here has almost the middle or reflexive sense. The middle voice was already giving way to the passive. See 1 Peter 5:6 for this same form with the same promise of exaltation. [source]
First aorist passive imperative of ταπεινοω tapeinoō old verb, for which see Matthew 18:4. Peter is here in the role of a preacher of humility. “Be humbled.” [source]