Mark 10:15 is translated in the 8th Century translation of the gospels into Arabic that is found in Vatican Arabic MS13 in a remarkably clear and communicative manner. It says:
“Truly I say to you that anyone who does not make efforts to seek the kingdom of God and the simplicity of his heart and understanding is not like a child, he will not enter the kingdom and will not obtain any of its blessings.”
والحق اقول لكم ان كل من لم يسعا في طلب ملكوت اللـه ويصير بلاهه قلبه وذكاه نفسه مثل الطفل لا يدخل الملكوت ولن يصل الى شي من نعيمها
The Greek that is often translated in English as “truly, truly, I tell you” or similar is translated in the Russian BTI translation (publ. 2015) as Поверьте Мне (Pover’te Mne) or “trust me.” (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)
Painting by Chen Yuandu 陳緣督 (1902-1967)
Housed in the Société des Auxiliaires des Missions Collection – Whitworth University
Image taken from Chinese Christian Posters . For more information on the “Ars Sacra Pekinensis” school of art, see this article , for other artworks of that school in TIPs, see here.
“Adult activities are only for adults and the activities of child are only for children. Usually only very elderly Thai adults will spend time with children, but here we see Jesus doing it. The shaved hairstyles are different for the different boys and girls. Those with two pony tails are actually boys with two crowns of hair indicative of either great intelligence or belligerence.”
Retrotraducciones en español (haga clic o pulse aquí)
Padres trajeron sus hijos, caragando los bebés y otras personas tomando los niños de la mano para que Jesús les impusiera las manos y los bendeciera.
Los discípulos los vieron (y dijeron): “No, está prohibido, vayanse.” Jesús lo vio y dijo: “No está prohibido, dejan que los niños todos vengan a mi.
Yo les advierto a uds: Adultos que en su carácter/actitud parecen a los niños pueden juntarse al reino de Dios.
Los niños pequeños sí son aceptados a juntarse al reino de Dios.
Si uds, los adultos, no quieren copiar la actitud de los niños y lo rechazan, no pueden juntarse al reino de Dios.”
Jesús llamó a los niños a que vinieran y muchos vinieron y los impuso la manos y los bendijo.
Parents brought their children, carrying the babies and other people taking the children by the hand for Jesus to lay his hands on them and bless them.
The disciples saw this (and said): “It is not allowed, get away.” Jesus saw it and said: “It is not forbidden, leave the children, let them all come to me.
“I warn you: Adults that are like children in their character/attitude can join the Kingdom of God.
“Little children are accepted to join the Kingdom of God.
“If you, the adults, do not want to copy the same mindset as the children and reject it, you cannot join the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus beckoned the children to come and many came, and he lay his hands on them and blessed them.
Parents were bringing their little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch the children and bless them. So the children began to run to Jesus. And Jesus’ disciples saw this and began to stop the children, not letting them in, scolding them. Jesus noticed this, became indignant and said to the disciples:
— Why are you stopping the children? Let them come to me. Do not stop them! I tell you that there are those whose hearts are pure, and they believe in God as children. To them will be given the kingdom of God. I tell you that a person whose heart is pure and who believes in the Kingdom of God like a child, such a person will be able to enter the Kingdom of God.
Jesus called the children, hugged them, blessed them with the touch of His hands, and spoke good words to them.
Original Russian back-translation (click or tap here):
Родители приносили своих маленьких детей к Иисусу. Они хотели, чтобы он прикоснулся к детям и благословил их. И вот дети стали сбегаться к Иисусу. А ученики Иисуса увидели это и стали мешать детям, не пускать их, ругать. Иисус заметил это, возмутился и сказал ученикам:
— Вы зачем препятствуете детям? Пусть они приходят ко мне. Не мешайте им! Говорю вам, что есть люди, сердце у которых чисто, и они верят в Бога, как дети. Им дано будет Царствие Бога. Говорю вам, что человек, сердце у которого чисто, и он верит в Царство Бога, как дети, такой человек сможет войти в Царство Бога.
Иисус подозвал детей, обнял их, благословил их прикосновением рук и говорил им хорошие слова.
In the GermanGute Nachricht (Good News) translation of 1982, this occurrence of the Greek term which is translated in most English versions of “kingdom (of God or heaven)” is translated with “God’s new world” (Gottes neue Welt). The das Buch translation by Roland Werner (publ. 2009-2022), also in German, translates these occurrences as “God’s new reality” (about Werner’s translation, see here .
For an explanation of the differentiated translation in German as well as translation choices in a number of languages, see Kingdom (of God / heaven).
Following are a number of back-translations of Mark 10:15:
Uma: “Indeed I tell you: If you don’t submit to God like a child, you will not become his people/crowd in his Kingdom.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Truly I tell you,’ said Isa, ‘if the trusting of a person in God is not like the trusting of children, na, that person is really not included in the ruling of God.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This that I say to you is true, that if there is a person whose faith in God is not like the faith of one of these little children, then God can’t rule over him.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “This that I say to you is true that if you do not receive God’s ruling of you like the way a child receives-it, you absolutely will not be included there.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “This which I will say to you is true, that whoever won’t cause himself to be like a little child in his submission to the rule/control of God really won’t be able to enter this kingdom of his.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
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