18:2a

Jesus invited a little child: This clause indicates that there was a child nearby, but not right next to Jesus. So Jesus called for the child to come close to him.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

Jesus invited a little child ⌊to come⌋ to him

In some languages it will be more natural to translate this clause as direct speech. For example:

Jesus invited a little child and said, “Come here.”

invited: This word indicates that Jesus asked or summoned the child to come. Jesus did not shout or talk loudly.

little child: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as little child refers to a young child. In this context, it refers to a child who was old enough to stand and walk.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

small child (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
young child

18:2b

to stand among them: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to stand among them means that Jesus stood the child among them. He set or placed the child in a standing position in the middle of the disciples.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

whom he set among them (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and he placed him standing in the middle of them

among them: The words among them indicates that the child was in the middle of Jesus and the disciples. He was surrounded by them. The child was most likely standing, but the men could have been sitting down. It is very possible that they were all inside of a house.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in the midst of them (English Standard Version)

-or-

in the middle of them all (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

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