Matthew 18:3

KJV1611 – Modern English

And said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become like little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ εἶπεν, Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, Ἐὰν μὴ στραφῆτε, καὶ γένησθε ὡς τὰ παιδία, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Transliteration

And eipen, Amēn legō to you, if not straphēte, and genēsthe as the paidia, not not eiselthēte into the basileian of the ouranōn.

Grammar Details

• *eipen*: verb, aorist, active, indicative, 3rd person, singular - said/spoke
• *Amēn*: Hebrew transliteration, indeclinable - truly/verily
• *legō*: verb, present, active, indicative, 1st person, singular - I say/tell
• *straphēte*: verb, aorist, passive, subjunctive, 2nd person, plural - you be turned/converted
• *genēsthe*: verb, aorist, middle, subjunctive, 2nd person, plural - you become
• *paidia*: noun, accusative, neuter, plural - children/little children
• *eiselthēte*: verb, aorist, active, subjunctive, 2nd person, plural - you enter
• *basileian*: noun, accusative, feminine, singular - kingdom
• *ouranōn*: noun, genitive, masculine, plural - heavens

Word Meanings

• *eipen*: said/spoke/told
• *Amēn*: truly/verily/certainly
• *straphēte*: be turned/be converted/change
• *genēsthe*: become/be made/be born
• *paidia*: children/little children/infants
• *eiselthēte*: enter/go into/come into
• *basileian*: kingdom/reign/rule
• *ouranōn*: heavens/skies

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  And he said, "Truly, I tell you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  and said, Truly I say unto you, Except you turn, and become as little sons, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  and sayd. Verely I say vnto you: except ye tourne and become as chyldren ye cannot enter into the kyngdom of heven.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and sayde: Verely I saye vnto you: Excepte ye turne and become as children, ye shal not entre into the kyngdome of heauen.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And sayd, Verely I say vnto you, except ye be conuerted, and become as litle children, ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And sayde. Ueryly I say vnto you: except ye turne, and become as litle chyldren, ye shall not enter into the kyngdome of heauen.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  and said, "Most assuredly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  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;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  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.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  and said,“I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

Referenced Verses

• 1 Pet 2:2 : 2 As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
• Mark 10:14-15 : 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said to them, Allow the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Truly I say to you, Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter it.
• Matt 19:14 : 14 But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
• 1 Cor 14:20 : 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be infants, but in understanding be mature.
• Jas 5:19-20 : 19 Brethren, if any of you stray from the truth, and someone turns him back; 20 Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.
• Luke 18:16-17 : 16 But Jesus called them to him, and said, Allow little children to come to me, and do not forbid them: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Truly I say to you, whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall by no means enter therein.
• Luke 22:32 : 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith does not fail: and when you have returned, strengthen your brethren.
• Ps 131:2 : 2 Surely I have calmed and quieted myself, like a child weaned from his mother: my soul is like a weaned child.
• Matt 5:20 : 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
• John 3:3 : 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
• John 3:5 : 5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
• Acts 28:27 : 27 For the heart of this people has grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn, so that I should heal them.
• Ps 51:10-13 : 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall be converted to you.
• 2 Pet 1:11 : 11 For so an entrance will be provided to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
• Acts 14:22 : 22 Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.
• John 1:51 : 51 And he said to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
• Luke 13:24 : 24 Strive to enter through the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
• Matt 6:2 : 2 Therefore, when you do your charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.
• Matt 6:5 : 5 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.
• Matt 6:16 : 16 Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to fast. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.
• Matt 13:15 : 15 For this people's heart has become callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.
• Isa 6:10 : 10 Make the heart of this people dull, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted and healed.
• Matt 5:18 : 18 For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will by any means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
• Matt 19:23 : 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, Truly I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Mark 4:12 : 12 that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.