Luke 18 · Verse 15

Luke 18:15

And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
Luke 18:15, King James Version

Luke 18:15 in other translations

BSBNow people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.
WEBThey were also bringing their babies to him, that he might touch them. But when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
ASVAnd they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
YLTAnd they were bringing near also the babes, that he may touch them, and the disciples having seen did rebuke them,
DARBYAnd they brought to him also infants that he might touch them, but the disciples when they saw it rebuked them.
BBEAnd they took their children to him, so that he might put his hands on them: but when the disciples saw it, they said sharp words to them
WebsterAnd they brought to him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

What does Luke 18:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Lu 18:15-17. Little Children Brought to Christ.

15. infants--showing that some, at least, of those called in Matthew (Mt 19:13) and Mark (Mr 10:13) simply "little" or "young children," were literally "babes." touch them--or, as more fully in Matthew (Mt 19:13), "put His hands on them and pray," or invoke a "blessing" on them (Mr 10:16), according to venerable custom (Ge 48:14, 15). rebuked them--Repeatedly the disciples thus interposed to save annoyance and interruption to their Master; but, as the result showed, always against the mind of Christ (Mt 15:23; Lu 18:39, 40). Here, it is plain from our Lord's reply, that they thought the intrusion a useless one, as infants were not capable of receiving anything from Him. His ministrations were for grown people.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 15-30. Mt 19:13; See also Mt 19:14-19:30

(i) "And they brought" Mt 19:13, Mk 10:13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 They brought unto him also infants - On these verses the reader is requested to consult the notes on Mat 19:13 (note), Mat 19:14 (note), and on Mar 10:16 (note). When a spiritual guide (a gooroo) visits his disciple, the latter takes his child to him for his blessing, forcing the head of the child down to the gooroo's feet, who gives what is called his blessing in some such words as these, Live long! - Be learned! - Be rich!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 18:15-17
None are too little, too young, to be brought to Christ, who knows how to show kindness to those not capable of doing service to him. It is the mind of Christ, that little children should be brought to him. The promise is to us, and to our seed; therefore He will bid them welcome to him with us. And we must receive his kingdom as children, not by purchase, and must call it our Father's gift.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 18:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠροσέφερονProsepheronThey were bringingG4374
δὲdethenG1161
αὐτῷautōto HimG846
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὰtatheG3588
βρέφηbrephēinfantsG1025
ἵναinathatG2443
αὐτῶνautōnthemG846
ἅπτηται·haptētaiHe may touch;G681
ἰδόντεςidonteshaving seenG1492
δὲdehoweverG1161
οἱhoitheG3588
μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101
ἐπετίμωνepetimōnwere rebukingG2008
αὐτοῖς.autoisthem.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 18:15

  • Matthew 19:13-15

    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.

  • Mark 10:13-16

    And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

  • 1 Samuel 1:24

    And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.

  • Luke 9:49-50

    And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

  • Luke 9:54

    And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they brought.
1Sa 1:24; Mt 19:13-15; Mr 10:13-16
they rebuked.
9:49,50,54

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 18:14

    I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

  • Luke 18:15

    And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

  • Luke 18:16

    But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Read all of Luke 18

Luke 18:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y traían á él los niños para que los tocase; lo cual viendo los discípulos les reñían.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et on lui apporta aussi les petits enfants, afin qu’il les touche; et les disciples, le voyant, reprirent ceux qui les apportaient.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie brachten aber auch die Kindlein zu ihm, auf daß er sie anrühre. Als aber die Jünger es sahen, verwiesen sie es ihnen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Afferebant autem ad illum et infantes, ut eos tangeret. Quod cum viderent discipuli, increpabant illos.