What Does 2 Timothy 3:8 Mean in the King James?
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
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
English translates one verb twice as “withstood” and “resist”: the verse says the same stand against Moses now stands against truth.
THE MEANING
The verse names a present pattern: someone can appear persuasive while standing against truth, and a damaged mind can leave trust unapproved. The force of a claim does not establish its truth; its relation to truth and trust is what the verse puts to the test.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that forceful certainty or convincing imitation proves that a claim is true.
THE ROOT
ἀντέστησαν
antestēsan
GROWS FROM
στη-/στα- (the stand-stem of ἵστημι)
Stand or set in place; with the prefix anti-, stand against.
“withstood / resist” in this verse is antestēsan. The two English verbs translate different forms of ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi, stand against). The repeated Greek verb makes the comparison precise: the present resistance to truth takes the same stand-against form as the opposition to Moses.
ALSO GROWS
histēmi: Stand, set, or establish.
ἵστημι
The base action is taking or establishing a position; resistance is expressed as a stance.
stasis: A stance, position, or standing.
στάσις
This branch keeps the verse’s opposition concrete: it describes a position taken toward truth.
anastasis: A rising or standing up; resurrection.
ἀνάστασις
The same stand-family can describe rising up as well as standing against; the direction comes from the word’s form and context.
ἀδόκιμοι
adokimoi
GROWS FROM
δοκιμ-
dokim-
Test, examine, and determine whether something is approved or genuine.
“reprobate” in this verse is adokimoi. The adjective carries a testing image: their relation to trust is described as unapproved, a status reached through evaluation. The verse links corrupted minds with trust that does not pass that test.
ALSO GROWS
dokimazō: Test, examine, or prove.
δοκιμάζω
It shows the testing sense within the word family and clarifies the force of being unapproved.
dokimos: Approved or proven genuine.
δόκιμος
The negative form in this verse marks the opposite outcome: not proven or approved concerning trust.
πίστιν
pistin
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust, confidence, or reliability.
“faith” in this verse is pistin. The phrase concerns trust, not merely an idea someone holds. Joined with ἀδόκιμοι (adokimoi, unapproved), it describes trust itself as the point at which their stance is examined.
ALSO GROWS
pisteuō: Trust or rely on.
πιστεύω
This verb shows pistis as an act of reliance, not simply agreement with a statement.
pistos: Trustworthy or reliable.
πιστός
The related adjective links trust with steadiness and reliability.
THE PATTERN
The same verb for resistance can name opposition to truth or opposition to evil; its object gives the stance its direction.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.THE THREAD
But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.Acts uses ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi, stand against) for Elymas’ opposition too, and names its aim as turning the deputy away from trust. The shared verb makes the comparison in 2 Timothy exact in its action, not just its theme.
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