What Does Acts 20:31 Mean in the King James?
Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
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
Here, warning is the act of placing truth before the mind, carried person by person through night and day with tears.
THE MEANING
The verse holds long attention and personal tenderness together: each person remains in view through night and day, with tears. The warning keeps truth before the mind rather than leaving it as an abstract signal.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that a clear warning must be emotionally detached is undone: here, watchfulness speaks with tears.
THE ROOT
νουθετῶν
nouthetōn
GROWS FROM
νουθετέω (νοῦς + τίθημι)
To set or place something before the mind; to admonish or warn.
“warn” in this verse is nouthetōn. The word carries the sense of putting something before someone’s mind, so warning is more than announcing danger. The verse presents it as truth repeatedly brought to each person’s attention, with tears.
ALSO GROWS
nouthesía: Admonition
νουθεσία
The related noun names this mind-directed counsel as an ongoing form of care.
noûs: Mind, understanding
νοῦς
This element of the compound shows where the admonition is directed: toward what a person perceives and understands.
títhēmi: Set, put, place
τίθημι
This element gives the warning its image of placing truth before someone, rather than leaving it distant.
γρηγορεῖτε
grēgoreite
GROWS FROM
γρηγορέω (from ἐγρήγορα, related to ἐγείρω)
Stay awake; remain alert.
“watch” in this verse is grēgoreite. The word belongs to the Greek family of waking and being awake. Here, watching is sustained alertness, joined to remembering the years of attention and the people kept in view.
ALSO GROWS
egeírō: Awaken, raise
ἐγείρω
This related verb links watchfulness with waking into alertness.
egrḗgora: Have awakened; be awake
ἐγρήγορα
This perfect form underlies the sense of remaining awake that grēgoreō carries.
THE PATTERN
Watchful care keeps people in view and places needed truth before them with patience and tenderness.
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.THE THREAD
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.The word behind “warn” belongs to the same νουθετέω family as Acts 20:31: setting something before a person’s mind. Here it stands alongside comfort, support, and patience, opening the tearful warning as a form of attentive care.
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