What Does 1 Corinthians 16:4 Mean in the King James?

And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

1 Corinthians 16:4 · KJV

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

Companionship follows a fitting purpose: first Paul’s going is weighed, then their journey is joined to his.

THE MEANING

Your movement and others’ movement can be joined by whether a step fits the need before you. The verse holds personal and shared movement together: when the journey is fitting, you do not go alone.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a fitting path must be borne alone: fitting movement can gather companions.

THE ROOT

ἄξιον

axion

GROWS FROM

ἀξι-

axi-

Worth, fitness, or correspondence in measure.

“Meet” carries the sense of what corresponds in worth, not mere convenience. The question is whether Paul’s presence fits the journey; once it does, the others’ movement is joined to his.

ALSO GROWS

axios: Worthy, fitting, of corresponding value.

ἄξιος

This is the related form behind “meet,” showing that the decision concerns what fits the journey.

axioō: To consider worthy or deem fitting.

ἀξιόω

This branch makes the weighing explicit: the journey is considered in light of whether Paul’s going belongs in it.

axiōs: Worthily; in a manner that corresponds.

ἀξίως

The same word family describes a way of walking that corresponds to its calling, as in 1 Thessalonians 2:12.

THE PATTERN

Scripture presents movement as relational: fitting journeys are carried with others.

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Ruth 1:16 · KJVRuth’s journey is bound to Naomi’s, turning one person’s movement into a shared path.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 · KJVThe verse names the fruit of shared effort: two people’s work yields a good reward together.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Mark 6:7 · KJVThe twelve are sent into motion in pairs, so the mission is carried together.

THE THREAD

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 · KJV

The same Greek family appears in “walk worthy” as ⁨ἀξίως⁩ (axiōs, worthily; in a way that corresponds). Here Paul’s going is ⁨ἄξιον⁩ (axion, fitting) when it corresponds to the need; in both verses, worth is measured by fit.

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