And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
Parallel translations
- WEB He laid his hands on them, and departed from there.
- BSB And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
- NKJV And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
- NASB After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.
- NLT And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
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 blesses the children by laying his hands on them before moving on. It shows he values and personally blesses even the smallest who are brought to him.
Overview
Laying on of hands was a gesture of blessing rooted in the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 48). By blessing the children, Jesus dignifies them and models that none are too young or insignificant for his care. His tender attention foreshadows the gospel welcome extended to all who come to him in faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Mark 10:16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
- 2 Tim 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- 1 Cor 7:14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
- 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.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 19:15 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
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