What Does Acts 24:4 Mean in the King James?
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
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 appeal makes room for itself by promising not to cut further into the listener’s time and by invoking the listener’s clemency.
THE MEANING
A request for a hearing can begin by acknowledging the listener’s time and asking for a brief opening. The phrase rendered “not further tedious” carries the image of not hindering or cutting in further; the appeal asks to be heard briefly and attributes forbearance to the hearer. Courtesy here shapes the conditions of listening.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that courteous wording is always neutral: here, brevity and praise of the hearer’s clemency help secure attention.
THE ROOT
ἐγκόπτω
enkoptō
GROWS FROM
κοπ- (κόπτω, koptō)
Cut or strike; in ἐγκόπτω, the image develops into hindering or impeding.
The Greek verb behind “tedious” can mean hinder or impede, with a picture of cutting in. The request frames itself as refusing to intrude further on the listener’s time before asking for a brief hearing.
ALSO GROWS
koptō: To cut or strike
κόπτω
This base verb gives a physical image beneath the social wording of the request.
enkopē: Hindrance or obstacle
ἐγκοπή
This related noun names an impediment, echoing the speaker’s promise not to hinder the listener further.
παρακαλέω
parakaleō
GROWS FROM
καλ- (καλέω, kaleō)
Call or summon; in this appeal, the verb means to urge or ask.
“I pray thee” is a direct appeal or urging. Its word family also names encouragement and consolation, so the same kind of address can request a hearing or offer support; here, it is a request.
ALSO GROWS
paraklēsis: Appeal, encouragement, or consolation
παράκλησις
The family ranges from urging to consolation, while this verse uses it to ask for attention.
paraklētos: Helper or advocate
παράκλητος
This related word shows the family can describe a person who supports another, as well as an appeal directed to someone.
ἐπιείκεια
epieikeia
GROWS FROM
ἐπιεικ- (ἐπιεικής, epieikēs)
Gentle reasonableness, fairness, or forbearance in how one treats another.
“Clemency” is ἐπιείκεια (epieikeia), a quality of gentleness or reasonableness. By appealing to it, the speaker makes the request personal: the hearer is addressed as someone disposed to grant a hearing.
ALSO GROWS
epieikēs: Gentle, equitable, or reasonable
ἐπιεικής
This related adjective names the quality the speaker invokes in the hearer.
epieikeia: Gentleness, fairness, or forbearance
ἐπιείκεια
The noun in this verse frames the requested hearing as an act of the listener’s forbearance.
THE PATTERN
When speech is measured and hearing comes first, conversation has room for a sound response.
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.THE THREAD
And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,“Exhortation” translates παρακαλέω (parakaleō), the same verb behind “I pray thee” in Acts 24:4. The shared word family spans a brief appeal and encouragement, showing how speech can ask for a hearing or steady someone.
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