# Matthew 18.3

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [Matthew](/codex/matthew-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 1. In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And he called to him a little child, and set him in the middle of them,
>
> **3. and said, <span class="rl-speech">Truly I say unto you, Except you turn, and become as little sons, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.</span>**
>
> 4. <span class="rl-speech">Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me:</span> (Matthew 18:1-5, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 1. In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2. Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them,
>
> **3. and said, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.</span>**
>
> 4. <span class="rl-speech">Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,</span> (Matthew 18:1-5, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
>
> **3. 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.**
>
> 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (Matthew 18:1-5, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 1. At that hour came the disciples near to Jesus, saying, 'Who, now, is greater in the reign of the heavens?' 2. And Jesus having called near a child, did set him in the midst of them,
>
> **3. and said, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;</span>**
>
> 4. <span class="rl-speech">whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the reign of the heavens.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">'And he who may receive one such child in my name, doth receive me,</span> (Matthew 18:1-5, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G932 - basileia](/codex/g932-basileia/), *basileia* (Strong's G932). Also appears in: [Matthew 4.23](/codex/matthew-4-23/), [Matthew 5.17-20](/codex/matthew-5-17-20/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G1096 - ginomai](/codex/g1096-ginomai/), *ginomai* (Strong's G1096). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 8.16](/codex/matthew-8-16/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [God and the Killing of Children](/codex/god-and-the-killing-of-children/), via [Matthew 18.1-6](/codex/matthew-18-1-6/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [Matthew 18](/codex/matthew-18/)

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