Matthew 18:4 akjv — Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

American King James Version

"Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "

— Matthew 18:4, American King James Version

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Matthew 18:4 in Other Translations

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Matthew 18 — Context

1

At the same time came the disciples to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2

And Jesus called a little child to him, and set him in the middle of them,

3

And said, Truly I say to you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4

Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5

And whoever shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.

6

But whoever shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ¶

7

Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

Matthew 18:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 18:4 say?
Matthew 18:4 in the American King James Version reads: “Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ”
Where is Matthew 18:4 in the Bible?
Matthew 18:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 18, verse 4.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 18:4.
What translation should I read Matthew 18:4 in?
Matthew 18:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 18:4?
Matthew 18:4 reads (AKJV): “Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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