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pais παῖς pais

CHILD, or SERVANT — a word Greek never fully separates, and the New Testament's translators have never agreed how to split. ⚠ Acts 3:13 and 3:26 both apply it to Jesus, and KJV renders it 'Son' both times while ASV, NIV and ESV all render it 'servant' both times — RV60 and NVI split the same way in Spanish, Hijo against siervo. 'Servant' connects to Isaiah's Suffering Servant songs, since the Greek Old Testament uses this identical word, pais theou, for that figure (Isaiah 42:1, 52:13); 'Son' reads the same Greek through a more explicit filial theology available by the time these versions were made. Both readings are old, both are defended, and the single Greek word underneath does not settle which one is right. → first discussed at Acts 3:13