Bible Strands
Luke 9:47
But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus responds to the disciples' dispute over who would be the greatest by calling a little child to stand beside Him.
The words — εἰδὼς (eidōs) translates as "knowing," and διαλογισμὸν (dialogismon) renders to "reasoning" or "thoughts."
The thread — Jesus' awareness of unspoken motives runs through Luke 5:22 and John 16:30, while the request for divine examination of inner life appears in Psalms 139:23.
Why it lands — It demands that readers stop competing for status and accept that divine attention operates independently of human posturing.
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
And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
Cross-references
- Psalms 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
- Luke 5:22 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
- John 16:30 Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”
- Psalms 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
- Matthew 9:4 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
- Matthew 19:13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
- John 2:25 He did not need any testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
- Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
- Revelation 2:23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.