What Does 1 Corinthians 16:18 Mean in the King James?
For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The “spirit” they refresh is breath: their presence gives both the speaker and you room to breathe.
THE MEANING
Refreshment reaches through people: their presence brings ease to the speaker’s breath and yours. You are not sealed off from receiving rest; another person’s care can reach your inner life. Those who bring that shared relief become recognizable by what their presence makes possible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that restoration must happen alone falls away: this verse describes people whose presence brings refreshment to both the speaker and you.
THE ROOT
πνεῦμα
pneuma
GROWS FROM
πνευ-/πνε- (pneu-/pne-), from πνέω (pneō)
To blow or breathe.
πνεῦμα carries the sense of breath and wind as well as spirit, so the word translated “spirit” stays close to bodily breath. Here that breath is refreshed in two people, making the relief tangible and shared.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: To blow or breathe.
πνέω
It reveals the breath-root within πνεῦμα, which English “spirit” can obscure.
pnoē: Breath or blowing.
πνοή
This related word keeps breath and moving air within the same word-family.
ἀνέπαυσαν
anepausan
GROWS FROM
ἀναπαύω (anapauō), built with παύω (pauō)
To bring to rest; παύω means to stop or cease.
The verb translated “refreshed” names giving rest, a release from strain. The verse says this ease reaches both the speaker’s breath and yours.
ALSO GROWS
pauō: To stop or cease.
παύω
This root gives the refreshment its sense of strain coming to an end.
anapausis: Rest or respite.
ἀνάπαυσις
This related noun shows the rest contained in the act of refreshing.
ἐπιγινώσκετε
epiginōskete
GROWS FROM
γινώσκω (ginōskō), in the compound ἐπιγινώσκω (epiginōskō)
To know or perceive; in this compound, to recognize.
“acknowledge” in this verse is epiginōskete. The verse connects recognition with what these people’s presence has made known: shared refreshment. Their character is perceived through the rest they bring.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: To know or perceive.
γινώσκω
It grounds “acknowledge” in knowing through perception, rather than mere information.
epignōsis: Recognition or fuller knowledge.
ἐπίγνωσις
This related noun echoes the compound’s sense of recognizing what has become evident.
THE PATTERN
Rest moves through relationship: one person’s presence can bring another relief and ease.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.THE THREAD
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Jesus uses the same verb-family translated “refreshed” here when he says, “I will give you rest.” The shared root links rest received from Jesus with the refreshment people bring one another.
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