What Does Luke 9:47 Mean in the King James?
And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The “thought” here is inward reasoning, and Jesus answers the heart’s ranking calculation by placing a child beside himself.
THE MEANING
Jesus perceives the thoughts forming in your heart and sets a child beside himself. The child is near him before rank, achievement, or importance can be offered as a reason for that nearness.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The person nearest Jesus must be the one with the highest rank.
THE ROOT
διαλογισμόν
dialogismon
GROWS FROM
λογίζ-
logiz-
reckon, count, consider
The word translated “thought” can name reasoning or deliberation, carrying more weight than a passing idea. Its connection to reckoning lets you hear the heart’s thought as a calculation that Jesus answers with a concrete gesture.
ALSO GROWS
logizomai: reckon, count, consider
λογίζομαι
This related verb brings out the calculating shade inside the “thought” Jesus perceives.
dialogizomai: reason, deliberate
διαλογίζομαι
This related verb names the kind of inner reasoning that the verse places in the heart.
ἐπιγνούς
epignous
GROWS FROM
γινώσκω
ginōskō
know, recognize, perceive
“perceiving” in this verse is epignous. The verb carries the sense of knowing or recognizing, not merely catching sight of something. Jesus recognizes the reasoning in the heart, and the child he places beside himself makes that perception visible.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: know, recognize, perceive
γινώσκω
This is the underlying verb, joining perception with knowing.
gnōsis: knowledge, knowing
γνῶσις
This related noun shows the knowing carried by the verb behind “perceiving.”
παιδίον
paidion
GROWS FROM
παιδ-
paid-
child, youth
The Greek word names a child, and its family also includes words for a child’s formation. Here, though, the emphasis is on the child’s place: Jesus sets the child beside himself, close before any status is named.
ALSO GROWS
pais: child, boy or girl; also servant in some contexts
παῖς
This related word shares the child-root and keeps the figure concrete rather than making “child” an abstract quality.
paideuō: educate, train, discipline
παιδεύω
This related verb belongs to the same word-family, showing its connection to a child’s formation.
THE PATTERN
Human ranking is exposed when the lowly are placed close to the one whose measure is different.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:THE THREAD
And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.Luke 9:47 places a παιδίον (paidion), a child, beside Jesus; the next verse repeats that same Greek word when Jesus speaks of receiving “this child.” The nearness enacted here opens into the claim that the least among you is great.
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