Luke 9:46
New International Version
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

New Living Translation
Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest.

English Standard Version
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.

Berean Standard Bible
Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Berean Literal Bible
And an argument came up among them, which of them might be greatest.

King James Bible
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

New King James Version
Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest.

New American Standard Bible
Now an argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

NASB 1995
An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

NASB 1977
And an argument arose among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now an argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

Amplified Bible
An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest [surpassing the others in esteem and authority].

Christian Standard Bible
An argument started among them about who was the greatest of them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them.

American Standard Version
And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And deliberation entered among them of who was great among them.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus' disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there entered a thought into them, which of them should be greater.

English Revised Version
And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A discussion started among them about who would be the greatest.

Good News Translation
An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest.

International Standard Version
Later, an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest.

Literal Standard Version
And there entered a reasoning among them, this—who may be greater of them.

Majority Standard Bible
Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

New American Bible
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.

NET Bible
Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest.

New Revised Standard Version
An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest.

New Heart English Bible
There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Weymouth New Testament
Now there arose a dispute among them, which of them was to be the greatest.

World English Bible
An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest.

Young's Literal Translation
And there entered a reasoning among them, this, Who may be greater of them?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Greatest in the Kingdom
45But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it. 46Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:1
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Mark 9:33
Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?"

Luke 22:24
A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.


Treasury of Scripture

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Luke 14:7-11
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, …

Luke 22:24-27
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest…

Matthew 18:1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

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Amongst Argument Disciples Discussion Dispute Entered Greater Greatest Reasoning Started
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Amongst Argument Disciples Discussion Dispute Entered Greater Greatest Reasoning Started
Luke 9
1. Jesus sends his apostles to work miracles, and to preach.
7. Herod desires to see Jesus.
10. The apostles return.
12. Jesus feeds five thousand;
18. inquires what opinion the world had of him; foretells his passion;
23. proposes to all the pattern of his patience.
28. The transfiguration.
37. He heals the lunatic;
43. again forewarns his disciples of his passion;
46. commends humility;
51. bids them to show mildness toward all, without desire of revenge.
57. Many would follow him, but upon conditions.














(46) Then there arose a reasoning among them.--Better, a dispute, or questioning. See Notes on Matthew 18:1-5, and Mark 9:33-41.

Which of them should be greatest.--Better, which of them was the greatest.

Verses 46-48. - How the Lord answered the question which arose among the disciples as to which was the greatest. Verses 46, 47. - Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart. Somewhere on their journey back to the south, between the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi and the old scene of his labours, Capernaum, this dispute must have taken place. Shortly after their arrival at Capernaum, the Master called them together, and gave them the following lesson on human greatness. Took a child, and set him by him. St. Mark mentions that this teaching was "in the house," and commentators have suggested, with some probability, that the house was St. Peter's, and the child one of his. Clement of Alexandria ('Stromata,' 3:448, B) especially mentions that this apostle had children. St. Matthew relates this incident at greater length, and, still dwelling upon the text of "the little one," gives us another and different sketch of the Master's teaching on this occasion. St. Mark tells us how Jesus folded his arms round the little creature in loving fondness. If the child, as above suggested, was Peter's own, such an incident as that embrace would never have been forgotten by the father, and would, of course, find a place in the memoir of his faithful disciple Mark. A (late) tradition of the Eastern Church identifies this child with him who afterwards became the famous Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, a martyr. Ignatius styled himself Theophoros; this, understood in a passive sense, would signify "one who had been carried by God." But in this Father's own writings we find the name used by himself in an active sense, as "one who carries God within himself." And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child. The dispute "which of them should be greatest," which no doubt had taken place among themselves in their last journey from the north of the Holy Land to Capernaum, was still a leading thought in the hearts of the twelve, so little had they really understood their Master's teaching, and especially his later solemn words which pointed the way of the cross as the only way to heaven and to real greatness. The Lord reads these poor sinful hearts; then, calling them together, he takes a child in his arms, and sets him by him. By this action the Lord answers the silent questioning thought of the worldly twelve. "The child stands as the type of the humble and childlike disciple, and (the dispute having been about the comparative greatness of the disciples) such a disciple is the greatest; he is so honoured by God that he stands on earth as the representative of Christ, and of God himself (ver. 47), since "he that is [willingly] least among you all, the same shall be [truly] great' (ver. 48)" (Meyer).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

an argument
διαλογισμὸς (dialogismos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1261: From dialogizomai; discussion, i.e. consideration, or debate.

started
Εἰσῆλθεν (Eisēlthen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1525: To go in, come in, enter. From eis and erchomai; to enter.

among
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the disciples]
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

[as to]
τὸ (to)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

which
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

of them
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

would be
εἴη (eiē)
Verb - Present Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[the] greatest.
μείζων (meizōn)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.


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NT Gospels: Luke 9:46 There arose an argument among them about (Luke Lu Lk)
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