What Does 2 Corinthians 6:9 Mean in the King James?
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
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 Greek uses one death-family for both “dying” and “killed,” yet places “we live” between those forms.
THE MEANING
Being unseen or misread does not erase being known. Death can be near and discipline can be real while life is still present; the verse holds both sides without making the suffering small.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that if people do not recognize you, you are unknown altogether, or that discipline and exposure to death mean you have been handed over to death.
THE ROOT
ἀποθνῄσκοντες
apothnēskontes
GROWS FROM
θνῃσκ-/θανατ- (thnēsk-/thanat-)
The Greek death-family: to die, death, or put to death.
“Dying” and “killed” come from related forms in the same death-family: ἀποθνῄσκω and θανατόω. The verse distinguishes living under death’s nearness from being put to death, with “we live” held between them.
ALSO GROWS
apothnēskō: To die; undergo death.
ἀποθνῄσκω
This is the verb behind “as dying,” describing death as a present condition.
thanatoō: To put to death; kill.
θανατόω
This related death-family verb appears in “not killed,” drawing a line between dying and being extinguished.
ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι
epiginōskomenoi
GROWS FROM
γινωσκ-
ginōsk-
To know or recognize through encounter.
The word for “well known” belongs to the γινώσκω family: knowing and recognition, rather than mere public visibility. The verse leaves the one doing the knowing unnamed, so obscurity and recognition remain together.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: To know; perceive.
γινώσκω
This base verb shows the encounter-based knowing carried by the word for “well known.”
epignōsis: Recognition; full knowledge.
ἐπίγνωσις
This related noun carries the recognition sense of the same word-family.
παιδευόμενοι
paideuomenoi
GROWS FROM
παιδ-
paid-
Child; the word-family describes the training or formation of a child.
The word translated “chastened” can carry the force of training and discipline, not only punishment. That shade does not erase the pain: the verse names the discipline and still distinguishes it from being killed.
ALSO GROWS
paideia: Training; discipline.
παιδεία
This noun names the forming or correction carried by “chastened.”
paideutēs: Instructor; trainer.
παιδευτής
This related word shows the family’s connection to instruction and formation.
THE PATTERN
Scripture names real affliction without treating it as the last word over life.
The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.THE THREAD
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.The same γινώσκω family behind “well known” appears here in “I shall know” and “I am known.” It opens the current verse’s contrast between being obscure and being recognized, while leaving the one who knows unnamed.
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