Bible Strands
Luke 7:28
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a crowd that includes tax collectors and religious observers immediately after quoting the messenger prophecy of Luke 7:27. He speaks this declaration just before noting that the assembled people acknowledged God’s justice through John’s baptism.
The words — μεῖζων (meizōn) means “greater” and establishes the comparative metric of the verse. γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν (gennētois gunaikōn) literally renders “[those] born of women,” defining the scope of the pre-kingdom human order.
The thread — Matthew 11:11 records the identical declaration, while Hebrews 11:39 notes that faithful figures under the old covenant did not receive the promised fulfillment. Matthew 13:16 contrasts those who see and hear the kingdom with those who remain outside its revelation.
Why it lands — The text states that no pre-kingdom figure surpasses John, yet any kingdom participant holds a higher status. It requires the reader to evaluate their standing not by historical proximity to prophecy but by present inclusion in God’s reign.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Cross-references
- Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
- Matthew 13:16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.
- Hebrews 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
- Colossians 1:25 I became its servant by the commission God gave me to fully proclaim to you the word of God,
- Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”
- Luke 10:23 Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
- Ephesians 3:8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- 1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
- Luke 3:16 John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Luke 1:14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,