10:15a

Truly I tell you: Jesus often used the words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly I tell you to begin a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it. Jesus used this phrase eight times in Mark. Sometimes it introduces a serious warning or prediction. Here it introduces Jesus’ warning that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. (Jesus also used the words “I tell you.” The words “Truly I tell you” are even more emphatic than “I tell you.”)

Here are some other ways to translate this:

I tell you the truth (New International Version)
-or-
I can guarantee this truth (God’s Word)
-or-
I solemnly assure you
-or-
I promise you that (Contemporary English Version)

If you have another way in your language to emphasize an important statement that is totally reliable, consider using it here.

See how you translated this phrase in 3:28a or 9:41c. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase differently in different contexts. Do not translate in a way that implies that Jesus had not been telling the truth at other times.

10:15b

anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it: In this context, the word receive means “accept” or “submit to.” A person must be willing to accept God’s rule in his life and to be part of the community of people who accept his rule. That person must be humble and depend on God, like little children depend on their parents.

The word enter figuratively refers to belonging to God’s kingdom. If a person is not willing for God to rule over him, God will not allow that person to belong to His kingdom. See also kingdom of God, Context 1, in the Glossary.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

…whoever does not accept God’s ruling over him the way a child accepts it, he absolutely will not be included in God’s kingdom.
-or-
…people who do not submit to God like children will not become his people in his Kingdom.

not…never: In some languages, two negatives such as this may be confusing. Here are some ways you might translate this phrase without using two negatives:

…God will accept into his kingdom only those people who will accept his rule as if they were children.
-or-
…no one will be included in the kingdom of God unless he welcomes God’s rule in his life like a child does.

© 2008 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
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