What Does Acts 5:34 Mean?
But a certain one stood up in the council, a separated one named Gamaliel, a teacher of instruction, held in honor among all the people, and commanded that the sent ones be put outside for a little while.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;THE KEY
Gamaliel’s esteem among the people does more than describe him: it gives him enough standing to make a pause before the council acts.
THE MEANING
When a charged decision gathers speed, recognized standing can interrupt its momentum and make a little room. Reputation has practical force here: it moves the apostles aside for a brief interval. The verse holds that pause open before anything further is decided.
THE ROOT
τίμιος
tímios
GROWS FROM
τιμ
tim
worth, value, honor
“held in honor” in this verse is tímios. τίμιος (tímios) means honored, valued, or precious; the phrase carries public esteem as a recognition of worth. The same τιμ (tim) family names both the value recognized and the act of honoring, so Gamaliel’s reputation functions as social weight that can secure a pause.
ALSO GROWS
timē: honor, value, or worth
τιμή
This noun makes visible the worth behind the esteem the verse attributes to Gamaliel.
timaō: to honor or assign value
τιμάω
This verb shows honor as an act that recognizes worth, not merely a reputation someone possesses.
גמליאל
Gamaliel
GROWS FROM
גמל
g-m-l
to deal fully, requite, or repay
The name joins גמל (g-m-l, to requite or repay) with אֵל (ʾEl, God), and is commonly understood as “God has rewarded” or “reward of God.” The verse places this name beside the esteem Gamaliel receives from the people, adding the language of recompense to his public honor.
ALSO GROWS
gāmal: to deal with, requite, or repay
גָּמַל
This verb carries the root’s sense of a return or response, a layer present in the name Gamaliel.
gemul: recompense or repayment
גְּמוּל
This noun makes the root’s idea of return explicit and echoes the reward sense commonly heard in Gamaliel’s name.
THE PATTERN
A measured judgment begins by making room to hear before deciding.
The one who returns a word before he hears it, folly and shame are his.A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to hush, and a time to speak.Know this, my beloved brothers. Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to swell.THE THREAD
Honor all people. Love the brothers. Stand in awe of God. Honor the king.Acts calls Gamaliel τίμιος (tímios, honored or valued); Peter uses the same τιμ (tim, honor or value) family in “Honour all men” and “Honour the king.” The shared root links public reputation with recognizing worth across people, not only in a person of standing.
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