What Does Acts 20:32 Mean in the King James?
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
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 of favor builds you into a people who share an inheritance.
THE MEANING
You are entrusted to God and to the word of his favor. That word is able to build you up and give you a share in the inheritance among all who are set apart. Your growth takes place within a people who receive together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that you must build your own standing before you can receive: here, the word of favor does the building and gives the inheritance.
THE ROOT
οἰκοδομῆσαι
oikodomēsai
GROWS FROM
οἰκοδομέω
oikodomeō
To build a house or structure.
“build you up” in this verse is oikodomēsai. This is house-building language: the word is able to form you into a stable structure. The verse joins that building to receiving a share among the set-apart community.
ALSO GROWS
oikos: House or household.
οἶκος
The verb’s house imagery makes “build you up” a picture of being formed into a place of belonging.
oikodomē: Building or structure; also edification.
οἰκοδομή
This related word carries the same movement from construction to being built up.
χάριτος
charitos
GROWS FROM
χάρις
charis
Favor, goodwill, or a freely bestowed benefit.
“grace” in this verse is charitos. Here the word is favor: the message carries the character of what is freely bestowed. That favor is active in the verse, building you up and giving an inheritance.
ALSO GROWS
charizomai: To grant freely or bestow; in some contexts, to forgive.
χαρίζομαι
This branch shows favor taking the form of a free grant, matching the inheritance given in the verse.
charitoō: To bestow favor or show favor.
χαριτόω
The branch makes explicit the movement from favor to someone who receives it.
κληρονομίαν
klēronomian
GROWS FROM
κληρονομία
klēronomia
An allotted share received as an inheritance.
The inheritance is a share within a people, not a possession described in isolation. The verse places it among all who are set apart, linking belonging with what is given.
ALSO GROWS
klēros: A lot, portion, or allotted share.
κλῆρος
This related word reveals the share contained within the idea of inheritance.
klēronomos: An heir; one who receives an inheritance.
κληρονόμος
The heir belongs to the same word family as the inheritance received in the verse.
klēronomeō: To inherit or receive an inheritance.
κληρονομέω
This verb shows the inheritance as something received, corresponding to the verse’s “give you an inheritance.”
THE PATTERN
The word of God’s favor builds a people who receive inheritance together.
For the LORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.THE THREAD
Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.This verse repeats the phrase “the word of his grace,” joining the same word and favor. It lets you hear the building and inheritance in Acts 20:32 as the work of that favor-bearing word.
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