What Does Acts 13:34 Mean in the King James?
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
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
David’s faithful love stands on a life that cannot return to decay.
THE MEANING
God’s gift to you is David’s faithful love made sure. The one raised from death does not return to decay, so this life reaches you as a promise death cannot undo.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the lie that every promise of life is temporary because death eventually reclaims everything.
THE ROOT
πιστά
pista
GROWS FROM
πείθω (peithō), root πειθ- (peith-)
Persuade, bring to trust; this word family carries the sense of trusting reliance and reliability.
The “sure” things are firm enough to lean on. Isaiah’s Hebrew wording pairs David’s faithful love with נֶאֱמָנִים (ne’emanim, firm and reliable), making trustworthiness part of the promise.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust, reliance.
πίστις
It shows that what is sure can be relied upon, not merely predicted.
pisteuō: Trust, entrust oneself.
πιστεύω
The same word family describes placing oneself in the care of what is dependable.
חַסְדֵי
chasdei
GROWS FROM
ח־ס־ד
ḥ-s-d
Faithful love; loyal, covenantal kindness.
“mercies” in this verse is chasdei. Isaiah’s Hebrew source names these as חַסְדֵי דָוִד (chasdei David, David’s faithful love). Acts renders the phrase with ὅσια (hosia, sacred things), while the Hebrew root brings out love that remains loyal and takes concrete form.
ALSO GROWS
chasadim: Acts of faithful love.
חֲסָדִים
The plural makes the promised love tangible: it appears in what is given and done.
chasid: A faithful, loyal person.
חָסִיד
This branch shows the root’s bond between faithful love and the one who embodies loyalty.
διαφθορά
diaphthora
GROWS FROM
φθείρω
phtheirō
Decay, destroy, corrupt.
“corruption” in this verse is diaphthora. The verse names more than a departure from death: there is no return to disintegration. The promise’s firmness stands against decay itself.
ALSO GROWS
phthora: Decay, destruction.
φθορά
It names the disintegration that the raised one does not return to.
diaphtheirō: Corrupt, destroy.
διαφθείρω
This verb makes clear that corruption is a process of breaking down, not simply a place one leaves.
THE PATTERN
What God raises into life is carried by faithful love that outlasts decay.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.THE THREAD
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.The Greek wording of this psalm uses the same word for “corruption” as Acts 13:34. Its promise that the Holy One will not see decay opens the meaning here: the raised one does not return to disintegration.
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