And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
Parallel translations
- WEB He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
- BSB And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
- NKJV And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
- NASB And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.
- NLT Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus takes the children in his arms and blesses them. His tender action embodies the welcome the kingdom extends to the lowly.
Overview
Going beyond what was asked, Jesus embraces, lays hands on, and blesses the children. The warmth of the scene reveals the heart of the Savior toward the vulnerable and dependent. It vividly enacts the truth he has just taught about the kingdom belonging to the childlike.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Mark 9:36And 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,
- Isa 40:11He 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.
- John 21:15–17So 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.
- Luke 2:28–34Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
- Luke 24:50–51And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
- Deut 28:3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
- Gen 48:14–16And 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.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 10:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.