What Does Luke 9:48 Mean in the King James?
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.
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
To receive the child in Jesus’ nature is to receive Jesus, and through him, the one who sent him.
THE MEANING
When this child is received in Jesus’ nature, Jesus is received; when Jesus is received, the one who sends him is received. The person who is least among you is great: greatness is present in the smallest place.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that greatness belongs to whoever ranks highest dissolves here: the least is called great.
THE ROOT
δέξηται
déxētai
GROWS FROM
δεχ-
dech-
To receive, welcome, or accept.
English “receive” can sound like simply taking something in; dechomai also carries the sense of welcoming or accepting. Luke repeats it at each link, child, Jesus, the one who sends him, so welcoming the child is a real welcome of the sender.
ALSO GROWS
apodechomai: To receive or accept.
ἀποδέχομαι
The compound keeps the sense of accepting what comes to you, illuminating the welcome at the heart of the verse.
paradechomai: To receive or acknowledge.
παραδέχομαι
This related form shows reception as acknowledgment, fitting the way receiving the child recognizes Jesus in the one received.
ὀνόματί
onómati
GROWS FROM
ὀνοματ-
onomat-
A name: the identity or designation by which someone is known.
“In my name” carries the sense of receiving the child in Jesus’ nature and character. The phrase makes the welcome take its shape from who Jesus is, rather than from a spoken formula.
ALSO GROWS
onomazō: To name or designate.
ὀνομάζω
Naming identifies how someone is known; here, Jesus’ name points to the character in which the child is received.
anōnymos: Unnamed or without a name.
ἀνώνυμος
This related word makes the force of name visible: it marks recognized identity, which the verse ties to Jesus’ nature.
μικρότερος
mikrŏteros
GROWS FROM
μικρ-
mikr-
Small or little; in comparison, smaller or lesser.
The form is comparative: the one who is “smaller” among the group is the one the verse calls great. Greatness is located in the least position itself, not in climbing out of it.
ALSO GROWS
mikros: Small or little.
μικρός
The base word gives the scale behind “least”: the verse is speaking of the one counted small among the group.
mikroteros: Smaller, lesser.
μικρότερος
This comparative form appears in the verse and sets the least person beside the declaration that this one is great.
THE PATTERN
The place marked least can be where receiving the divine and greatness meet.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.THE THREAD
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.Matthew uses the same Greek verb for “receive” and the same word for “name.” The parallel shows the child’s welcome as welcome of Jesus in his nature, opening the same connection Luke makes.
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