What Does 1 Thessalonians 3:12 Mean in the King James?
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
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
Love here grows from what is already present into a surplus that reaches beyond your circle.
THE MEANING
This verse holds you in a living prayer: may the Lord make your love grow among one another and overflow toward everyone. The love that reaches you is meant to keep moving outward through you.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that love is a fixed amount reserved for a chosen few; here, love grows and reaches all.
THE ROOT
πλεονάζω
pleonazō
GROWS FROM
πλεον-
pleon-
More; greater.
“increase” in this verse is pleonazō. The Greek pairs this verb with another verb for abundance, giving the movement two steps: love grows, then exceeds its former measure. Because the growth is directed toward other people, this “more” becomes relational expansion.
ALSO GROWS
pleiōn: more; greater
πλείων
This comparative word shares the sense of “more,” making the increase in love a real widening.
pleonasma: increase; surplus
πλεόνασμα
This related noun names what the increase leaves behind: more than the previous measure.
περισσεύω
perisseuō
GROWS FROM
περισσευ-
perisseu-
To exceed, overflow, or be in abundance.
“abound” in this verse is perisseuō. The verse does not stop at love becoming greater; it pictures love exceeding its former bounds. The overflow reaches both the community and everyone beyond it.
ALSO GROWS
perissos: abundant; exceeding the usual
περισσός
This related word carries the sense of more than ordinary measure, clarifying the force of “abound.”
perisseuma: abundance; surplus
περίσσευμα
This noun names what overflows, illuminating love as something that extends beyond what is merely sufficient.
THE PATTERN
Love grows beyond its present circle, reaching from neighbor to enemy and increasing in abundance.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;THE THREAD
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;Both verses use περισσεύω (perisseuō, “to abound”) and ἀγάπη (agapē, “love”). Philippians joins love’s abundance to knowledge and discernment, opening this verse’s overflow as a growing capacity to perceive how love reaches others.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us