What Does Acts 18:18 Mean in the King James?
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
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 word translated “vow” also means “prayer,” and here that inward utterance leaves a visible mark on the body.
THE MEANING
This verse holds departure and commitment together: Paul leaves with companions while carrying a vow into the next leg of the journey. The vow’s terms remain unnamed, but his shorn head makes its presence visible.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A vow is only an inward intention with no visible consequence.
THE ROOT
εὐχή
euchē
GROWS FROM
εὐχ
euch
To pray, wish, or make a vow.
The Greek word εὐχή (euchē), translated “vow,” also means “prayer,” while the related verb εὔχομαι (euchomai) means to pray, wish, or vow. The word holds inward expression and pledged commitment together; the shorn head shows that this vow has a visible bodily mark, though its terms remain unstated.
ALSO GROWS
euchē: Prayer; also a vow.
εὐχή
This shared word ties a vow to expressed appeal, letting the commitment carry the sense of something spoken or wished before God.
euchomai: To pray, wish, or vow.
εὔχομαι
The related verb shows the same root stretching from inward desire to pledged commitment.
THE PATTERN
A vow takes shape through concrete commitments and practices that mark a person’s life.
And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;THE THREAD
Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;The Greek word for “vow” here is the same noun, εὐχή (euchē), used for the four men’s vow in Acts 21:23. That repeated word keeps the vow concrete across both passages, while each leaves its specific terms unstated.
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