Mark 10 · Verse 16

Mark 10:16

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Mark 10:16, King James Version

Mark 10:16 in other translations

BSBAnd He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
WEBHe took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
ASVAnd he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
YLTand having taken them in his arms, having put his hands upon them, he was blessing them.
DARBYAnd having taken them in his arms, having laid his hands on them, he blessed them.
BBEAnd he took them in his arms, and gave them a blessing, putting his hands on them.
WebsterAnd he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

What does Mark 10:16 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Took them up in his arms. These were small children.

Blessed them. Prayed for them, sought a blessing on them, or gave them the assurance of his favour as the Messiah.

How happy would it be if all parents thus felt it to be their privilege to present their children to Christ! The question with a parent should be, not whether he ought to present them by prayer, but whether he may do it. And so, too, the question respecting infant baptism is not so much whether a parent OUGHT to devote his children to God in this ordinance, as whether he MAY do it. It is an inestimable privilege to do it; not a matter of mere stern and iron-handed duty; and a parent with right feelings will come to God with his children in every way, and seek his blessing on them in the beginning of their journey of life. Our children are given to us but for a little time. They are in a world of danger, sin, and woe. They are exposed to temptation on every hand. If God be not their Friend, they have no friend that can aid them in the day of adversity, or keep them from the snares of the destroyer. If He is their Friend, they have nothing to fear. The proper expression, then, of parental feeling, is to come and offer them early to God. A parent should ask only the privilege of doing it. He should seek God's favour as the best inheritance of his children; and if a parent may devote his offspring to God if he may daily seek his blessing on them by prayer--it is all that he should ask. With proper feelings, he will rush to the throne of grace, and daily seek the protection and guidance of God for his children amidst the temptations and snares of an ungodly world, and implore Him to be their guide when the parent shall be laid in the silent grave.

So, children who have been devoted to God; who have been the daily objects of a father's prayers and a mother's tears; who have been again and again presented to Jesus in infancy and childhood; are under the most sacred obligations to live to God. They should never forget that a parent sought the favour of God as the chief blessing; and having been offered to Jesus by prayer and baptism in their first days on earth, they should make it their great aim to be prepared to meet him when he shall come in the clouds of heaven.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 And he took them up in his arms - One of the Itala reads in sinu suo - "in his bosom." Jesus Christ loves little children; and they are objects of his most peculiar care. Who can account for their continual preservation and support, while exposed to so many dangers, but on the ground of a peculiar and extraordinary providence? And blessed them - Then, though little children, they were capable of receiving Christ's blessing. If Christ embraced them, why should not his Church embrace them? Why not dedicate them to God by baptism? - whether that be performed by sprinkling, washing, or immersion; for we need not dispute about the mode: on this point let every one be fully persuaded in his own mind. I confess it appears to me grossly heathenish and barbarous, to see parents who profess to believe in that Christ who loves children, and among them those whose creed does not prevent them from using infant baptism, depriving their children of an ordinance by which no soul can prove that they cannot be profited, and, through an unaccountable bigotry or carelessness, withholding from them the privilege of even a nominal dedication to God; and yet these very persons are ready enough to fly for a minister to baptize their child when they suppose it to be at the point of death! It would be no crime to pray that such persons should never have the privilege of hearing, My father! or, My mother! from the lips of their own child. See on Mat 3:6 (note), and on Mar 16:16 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 10:13-16

Some parents or nurses brought little children to Christ, that he should touch them, in token of his blessing them. It does not appear that they needed bodily cures, nor were they capable of being taught: but those who had the care of them believed that Christ's blessing would do their souls good; therefore they brought them to him. Jesus ordered that they should be brought to him, and that nothing should be said or…

Read the full comment on Mark 10:13-16 →

Mark 10:16 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐναγκαλισάμενοςenagkalisamenoshaving embracedG1723
αὐτὰautathemG846
κατευλόγειkateulogeihe was greatly blessing
τιθεὶςtitheishaving laidG5087
τὰςtastheG3588
χεῖραςcheirashandsG5495
ἐπ᾽ep᾽onG1909
αὐτά.¶autathem.G846

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

Cross references for Mark 10:16

  • Isaiah 40:11

    He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

  • Mark 9:36

    And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,

  • Genesis 48:14-16

    And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

  • Luke 24:50-51

    And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

  • Deuteronomy 28:3

    Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

  • John 21:15-17

    So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

  • Luke 2:28-34

    Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 48:14-16; De 28:3; Isa 40:11; Lu 2:28-34; 24:50,51; Joh 21:15-17

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

Context

  • Mark 10:15

    Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

  • Mark 10:16

    And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

  • Mark 10:17

    And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Read all of Mark 10

Mark 10:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tomándolos en los brazos, poniendo las manos sobre ellos, los bendecía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les ayant pris entre ses bras, il posa les mains sur eux et les bénit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er nahm sie in seine Arme, legte die Hände auf sie und segnete sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et complexans eos, et imponens manus super illos, benedicebat eos.