What Does 2 Timothy 4:14 Mean in the King James?
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
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 Lord’s “reward” is a give-back: the harm is named, and its answer is measured by the deeds that produced it.
THE MEANING
When harm reaches you, this verse names it plainly and places its answer with the Lord. The Lord’s response is according to the deeds, so the harm is neither erased nor treated as weightless.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that naming harm means you must avenge it yourself, or that leaving vengeance to the Lord means pretending the harm never happened.
THE ROOT
ἀποδώσει
apodōsei
GROWS FROM
ἀποδίδωμι (ἀπό + δίδωμι)
To give back, render, or repay.
The verb carries the sense of giving back, so “reward” here holds the possibility of repayment in response to what was done. Paired with “according to his works,” it makes the measure part of the sentence: the answer corresponds to the deeds.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give.
δίδωμι
This is the giving at the heart of the compound; with ἀπό, the act takes on the sense of giving back.
antapodidōmi: To repay in return.
ἀνταποδίδωμι
This related compound makes the return explicit, echoing the verse’s sense of repayment.
ἔργα
erga
GROWS FROM
ἐργ-
erg-
Work, deed, or act.
“Works” points to what is done, not just to a label or reputation. Beside “give back,” the word makes the deeds the measure of the response.
ALSO GROWS
ergazomai: To work or do.
ἐργάζομαι
The verb shows the same word family in action, connecting a deed with the doing that produces it.
ergatēs: Worker or laborer.
ἐργάτης
This branch names the one who does the work, keeping the focus on acts and their source.
THE PATTERN
What a person does is not erased; the Lord’s response is rendered according to the work.
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.Who will render to every man according to his deeds:And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.THE THREAD
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.“I will repay” uses a related Greek verb from the same give-back family as “reward” here. The connection opens the verse’s measure further: the harm remains named, while repayment is placed with the Lord.
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