Matthew 18 · Verse 3

Matthew 18:3

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.
Matthew 18:3, King James Version

Matthew 18:3 in other translations

BSB“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
WEBand 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.
ASVand 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.
YLTand 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;
DARBYand 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.
BBEAnd 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.
WebsterAnd said, Verily I say to you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

What does Matthew 18:3 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Mt 18:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Except ye be converted - Unless ye be saved from those prejudices which are at present so baneful to your nation, (seeking a temporal and not a spiritual kingdom), unless ye be clothed with the spirit of humility, ye cannot enter into the spirit, design, and privileges of my spiritual and eternal kingdom. The name of this kingdom should put you in mind of its nature. - 1. The King is heavenly; 2. His Subjects are heavenly-minded; 3. Their Country is heavenly, for they are strangers and pilgrims upon earth; 4. The Government of this kingdom is wholly spiritual and divine. See on Mat 3:2 (note). And become as little children - i.e. Be as truly without worldly ambition, and the lust of power, as little children are, who act among themselves as if all were equal. The following saying from the Boostan of the poet Saady is very appropriate. "The hearts of infants being free from avarice, what care they for a handful of silver more than for a handful of dust?"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 18:1-6

Christ spoke many words of his sufferings, but only one of his glory; yet the disciples fasten upon that, and overlook the others. Many love to hear and speak of privileges and glory, who are willing to pass by the thoughts of work and trouble. Our Lord set a little child before them, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and made like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children…

Read the full comment on Matthew 18:1-6 →

Matthew 18:3 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
εἶπεν·eipensaid;G2036
ἀμὴνamēnAmenG281
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771
ἐὰνeanonlyG1437
μὴmēunlessG3361
στραφῆτεstraphēteyou may turnG4762
καὶkaiandG2532
γένησθεgenēsthemay becomeG1096
ὡςhōsasG5613
τὰtatheG3588
παιδία,paidialittle children,G3813
οὐoucertainlyG3756
μὴmēnotG3361
εἰσέλθητεeiselthēteshall you enterG1525
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὴνtēntheG3588
βασιλείανbasileiankingdomG932
τῶνtōnof theG3588
οὐρανῶν.ouranōnheavens.G3772

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

Cross references for Matthew 18:3

  • Mark 10:14-15

    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.

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  • Matthew 19:14

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

  • 1 Corinthians 14:20

    Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

  • Luke 18:16-17

    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. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

  • Psalms 131:2

    Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.

  • John 3:5

    Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

  • John 3:3

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

  • Luke 13:24

    Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

  • Psalms 51:10-13

    Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

  • Acts 3:19

    Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

  • John 1:51

    And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Verily.
5:18; 6:2,5,16; Joh 1:51; 3:3
Except.
13:15; Ps 51:10-13; 131:2; Isa 6:10; Mr 4:12; Lu 22:32; Ac 3:19
Ac 28:27; Jas 5:19,20
and become.
Mr 10:14,15; Lu 18:16,17; 1Co 14:20; 1Pe 2:2
enter.
5:20; 19:23; Lu 13:24; Joh 3:5; Ac 14:22; 2Pe 1:11

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

Context

  • Matthew 18:2

    And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

  • Matthew 18:3

    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.

  • Matthew 18:4

    Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Read all of Matthew 18

Matthew 18:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo: De cierto os digo, que si no os volviereis, y fuereis como niños, no entraréis en el reino de los cielos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et dit: En vérité, je vous dis: si vous ne vous convertissez et ne devenez comme les petits enfants, vous n’entrerez point dans le royaume des cieux.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sprach: Wahrlich, ich sage euch, wenn ihr nicht umkehret und werdet wie die Kindlein, so werdet ihr nicht in das Reich der Himmel eingehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et dixit: Amen dico vobis, nisi conversi fueritis, et efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum cælorum.