What Does 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Mean in the King James?
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
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 separation is designed to be felt: the community withdraws shared contact so that refusal becomes shame.
THE MEANING
When someone refuses the community’s message, this verse marks a change in relationship: the person is identified and shared contact stops. Its aim is stated plainly, the person may feel shame. The verse presents exclusion as a deliberate social pressure.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the idea that this withdrawal is emotionally neutral: its stated aim is to make refusal felt as shame.
THE ROOT
συναναμίγνυσθε
synanamignysthe
GROWS FROM
μιγ- (mig-), in μίγνυμι (mignymi)
Mix, mingle.
“have no company” in this verse is synanamignysthe. The verb makes the social boundary concrete: it is a command to stop mixing in shared life. The stated result is shame, so the break in contact functions as pressure meant to make the refusal felt.
ALSO GROWS
migma: mixture
μίγμα
The shared root gives company the image of people mingled together; withdrawing contact removes someone from that mix.
mixis: mixing, mingling
μίξις
This branch keeps the focus on association as a shared mingling, which makes the withdrawal a change in belonging.
ὑπακούει
hypakouei
GROWS FROM
ἀκούω
akouō
Hear, listen; in ὑπακούω, heed or obey.
“obey not” in this verse is hypakouei. The refusal is framed as refusal to heed a spoken word, because this obedience verb is built on the Greek verb for hearing. The verse moves from an unheeded message to marked social distance: a failure of reception becomes a change in belonging.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: hearing; a report heard
ἀκοή
This branch keeps hearing at the center of the refusal named in the verse.
hypakoē: obedience, heeding
ὑπακοή
This related noun names the responsive side of the same hearing-and-heeding family.
THE PATTERN
Communal correction can make refusal visible by changing a person’s social standing or shared contact.
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.THE THREAD
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.Both verses use συναναμίγνυσθαι (synanamignysthai, to mingle or associate with) for the contact the community is told to withdraw. The shared verb carries the image of mixing into the social relation, making “no company” a deliberate withdrawal from association.
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