Luke 9:47

47 And Jesus, seeing the thoughts of the heart of them, took a child, and setted [set] him beside him;

Luke 9:47 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:47

And Jesus perceiving the thought of their heart
Not by any words he had heard; for the dispute was on the road, as they came along behind him; but as the omniscient God, who is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, he was privy to all their ambition, and the vanity of their minds, and to all their reasonings and debates: though he was before them, and out of the reach of hearing of them: and when he came to Capernaum, after having asked them what they disputed about by the way;

he took a child and set him by him.
The Ethiopic version reads, "before them", the disciples; and Matthew and Mark say, "he set him in the midst of them"; all which were true, Jesus sitting in the midst of them; so, that the child he set by him, was in the middle of them and before them; (See Gill on Matthew 18:2).

Luke 9:47 In-Context

45 And they knew not this word, and it was hid before them, that they feeled it not; and they dreaded to ask him of this word.

46 But a thought entered into them, who of them should be greatest.

47 And Jesus, seeing the thoughts of the heart of them, took a child, and setted [set] him beside him;

48 and said to them, Whoever receiveth this child in my name, receiveth me; and whoever receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me; for he that is least among you all, is the greatest. [and said to them, Whoever shall receive this child in my name, receiveth me; and whoever shall receive me, receiveth him that sent me; for why he that is less among you all, this is the more.]

49 And John answered and said, Commander, we saw a man casting out fiends in thy name, and we have forbidden him, for he followeth not thee with us.