Matthew 23:11

Simplified Cowboy Version

The one who is the top hand among you will be your servant who works like a pack mule.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The greatest among you will be your servant.

King James Version (1611)
But hee that is greatest among you, shall be your seruant.

King James Version
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

English Standard Version
The greatest among you shall be your servant.

New American Standard Bible
"But the greatest of you shall be your servant.

New Century Version
Whoever is your servant is the greatest among you.

Amplified Bible
"But the greatest among you will be your servant.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

Berean Standard Bible
The greatest among you shall be your servant.

Contemporary English Version
Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others.

Complete Jewish Bible
The greatest among you must be your servant,

Darby Translation
But the greatest of you shall be your servant.

Easy-to-Read Version
Whoever serves you like a servant is the greatest among you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But he that is greatest among you, let him be your seruant.

George Lamsa Translation
But he who is greatest among you, let him be your minister.

Good News Translation
The greatest one among you must be your servant.

Lexham English Bible
And the greatest among you will be your servant.

Literal Translation
But the greater of you shall be your servant.

American Standard Version
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Bible in Basic English
But let the greatest among you be your servant.

Hebrew Names Version
But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

International Standard Version
The person who is greatest among you must be your servant.Matthew 20:26-27;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
But he who is great among you, let him be your servitor.

Murdock Translation
And the great one among you will be your servitor.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
He that is greatest among you, shalbe your seruaunt.

English Revised Version
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

World English Bible
But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Weymouth's New Testament
He who is the greatest among you shall be your servant;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that is grettest among you, schal be youre mynystre.

Update Bible Version
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he that is greatest among you, shall be your servant.

New English Translation
The greatest among you will be your servant.

New King James Version
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

New Living Translation
The greatest among you must be a servant.

New Life Bible
"He who is greatest among you will be the one to care for you.

New Revised Standard
The greatest among you will be your servant.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, the greatest of you, shall be to you, a minister;

Douay-Rheims Bible
He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.

Revised Standard Version
He who is greatest among you shall be your servant;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
He that is greatest amoge you shalbe youre seruaunte.

Young's Literal Translation
And the greater of you shall be your ministrant,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He that is greatest amoge you, shalbe youre seruaunt.

Mace New Testament (1729)
he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

THE MESSAGE
"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Contextual Overview

¹Jesus turned and talked to his cowboys and the rest of the folks who were sittin' around. He said, ²"The hypocritical preachers and the lawyers of the Code are experts in the law of Moses. ³Y'all need to do what they say, but don't act like they act. They sure as heck don't practice what they preach. ⁴"They will load y'all down with impossible tasks they wouldn't be willing to bear. ⁵They have silver on their saddles and jingle bobs on their spurs, just so y'all will think they are important. They are all talk and no action. ⁶They like the box seats at the rodeo and want to be the first in line at the chuckwagon. ⁷They care about bein' recognized at the feed store and bein' called by fancy titles. ⁸"But y'all cowboys who ride for me don't need fancy titles. Y'all have only one Boss and you are all brothers. ⁹Don't call anyone on earth 'boss' because you only have one Boss and he is in heaven. ¹⁰Don't let anyone call you 'teacher' either. You only have one Teacher and he's the Boss's Son.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Matthew 20:26, Matthew 20:27, Mark 10:43, Mark 10:44, Luke 22:26, Luke 22:27, John 13:14, John 13:15, 1 Corinthians 9:19, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:5-8

Reciprocal: Matthew 18:1 - Who Matthew 18:4 - humble Luke 9:48 - he that

Cross-References

Luke 19:24
"Then the ranch manager handed the horse to another cowboy and said, 'Give this horse to the cow boss.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he that is greatest among you,.... Either who really is so, having more grace, and greater gifts bestowed upon him, than others; which doubtless was the case of some of the disciples, or who desired to be the greatest, was ambitious of, and affected a superiority over others, and to be in the highest post and place, as it is certain some of them did. This was what they were often contending about among themselves, who should be greatest: and Christ here seems to have regard to that vain spirit, which appeared among them; and his view is, to check and restrain it: "shall be your servant"; or "let him be your servant". Service is the way to honour; he that would be most esteemed ought to do the most work; and the man that has the most grace, and the greatest gifts, ought to employ them for the use and benefit of others;

:-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 20:26.

He that shall humble himself ... - God will exalt or honor him that is humble, and that seeks a lowly place among people. That is true religion, and God will reward it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 23:11. Your servant. — διακονος, deacon. See on Matthew 20:26.