What Does Mark 10:15 Mean in the King James?
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
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
God’s governance is entered through welcome, and the little child names the posture in which it can be received.
THE MEANING
God’s governance meets you as something to receive. A little child gives the shape of that receiving: dependence on what is given. The verse ties entering to this welcome here and now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that access to God is secured by proving your self-sufficiency.
THE ROOT
δέξηται
dexētai
GROWS FROM
δεχ-
dech-
To receive or welcome.
“receive” in this verse is dexētai. The Greek verb carries the sense of welcoming or accepting. In this sentence, welcome comes before entry: the child’s dependence gives the shape of receiving what is offered.
ALSO GROWS
apodechomai: Receive or welcome.
ἀποδέχομαι
Its compound form keeps the same receiving sense, making welcome visible in the word family.
paradechomai: Accept or receive.
παραδέχομαι
This branch also shows reception as taking something in, echoing the child’s posture in the verse.
βασιλεία
basileia
GROWS FROM
βασιλ-
basil-
Kingly rule or reign.
Βασιλεία (basileia, kingdom or reign) can name kingly rule itself. The phrase can therefore be heard as God’s governance: a living order that is received and entered.
ALSO GROWS
basileus: King.
βασιλεύς
The king is the source of the rule named by this word family.
basileuō: Reign or rule as king.
βασιλεύω
This verb makes the active reign within kingdom explicit, illuminating what is received.
THE PATTERN
God’s life is received as a gift, with childlike openness rather than self-sufficient achievement.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.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.But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:THE THREAD
Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.Mark 9:37 uses the same Greek verb for receive or welcome and joins it to a child: receiving a child in Jesus’ nature is receiving Jesus, and through him the One who sent him. The shared verb opens this verse’s childlike welcome into relationship with God.
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