What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Mean in the King James?
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
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 verse’s hinge is a patience slow to heat that meets each person with the kind of care they need.
THE MEANING
In your shared life, disorder calls for a warning, a faint heart for comfort, and weakness for a steady hold. Patience toward everyone gives these distinct responses a common ground: anger does not set the pace.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This verse undoes the belief that every struggling person needs the same response, or that weakness deserves dismissal.
THE ROOT
μακροθυμεῖτε
makrothymeite
GROWS FROM
θυμός (thymos), within μακροθυμέω (makrothymeō)
θυμός (thymos) means anger or heat; in μακροθυμέω (makrothymeō), patience is being slow to heat.
“be patient” in this verse is makrothymeite. The verb places this long-slowing posture over the whole verse: it extends toward everyone, whatever care they need. Patience is not blank waiting; it is anger not taking the lead.
ALSO GROWS
makrothymia: Patience; slowness to heat.
μακροθυμία
This related noun names the same quality the verse extends toward all people.
thymos: Anger, heat.
θυμός
This is the heat within the patience word-family, revealing what is being kept from rising too quickly.
ἀντέχεσθε
antechesthe
GROWS FROM
ἔχω (echō), in ἀντέχω (antechō)
ἔχω (echō) means hold or have; ἀντέχω (antechō) means hold fast to, cleave to, or stand by.
Support pictures a firm hold directed toward the weak: help stays engaged with the person who needs it. The word’s connection to holding makes this care something steady and close.
ALSO GROWS
echō: Hold, have.
ἔχω
This is the core verb within the word for supporting, giving the image of help as a hold maintained.
katechō: Hold fast, retain.
κατέχω
This related form carries the sense of keeping hold, illuminating the steadiness in support.
ὀλιγοψύχους
oligopsychous
GROWS FROM
ψυχή (psychē), the word-family stem ψυχ- (psych-)
ψυχή (psychē) means living soul; it names the living self.
“feebleminded” in this verse is oligopsychous. The adjective pictures a “small-souled” state: the living self has grown faint. The verse pairs it with comfort, παραμυθεῖσθε (paramytheisthe, console or encourage), showing consolation directed toward that diminished inner life.
ALSO GROWS
psychē: Living soul.
ψυχή
This is the word within “small-souled,” revealing the living self at the heart of the phrase.
eupsycheō: Be encouraged, take heart.
εὐψυχέω
This related word links encouragement with the ψυχ- (psych-) family, echoing the comfort offered to the faint-hearted.
THE PATTERN
Living care responds to the condition in front of it and gives particular support to those who are falling or weak.
The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.THE THREAD
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.Both passages use μακροθυμέω (makrothymeō, be patient or slow to heat). James pictures this patience in the farmer’s long wait for fruit; here it extends toward the different people and needs gathered in one community.
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