What Does Acts 27:15 Mean in the King James?

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

Acts 27:15 · KJV

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 Greek turns “we let her drive” into a picture of the crew being carried along with the ship.

THE MEANING

When the force before you exceeds your power to face it, this verse speaks from inside the motion: the ship cannot hold its course, so the crew is carried onward. The loss of steering does not stop movement; it changes who or what bears it.

THE ROOT

ἐφερόμεθα

epherometha

GROWS FROM

φερ-

pher-

To bear, carry, or bring.

“drive” in this verse is epherometha. The Greek verb pictures the crew themselves as being carried. Its root gathers bearing and movement into one image, making the shift from steering to being carried part of the verse’s texture.

ALSO GROWS

anapherō: Carry up, bring up.

ἀναφέρω

This branch shows how the root can mark the direction of what is borne, while Acts emphasizes being borne along.

peripherō: Carry around, bear about.

περιφέρω

It preserves the sense of movement under a carrying force, the same motion that shapes the scene in Acts.

THE PATTERN

Being carried is movement whose force comes from beyond the one being moved.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

Psalm 107:30 · KJVAfter the storm, the sailors reach their haven through a movement the verse attributes to God bringing them.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Hebrews 1:3 · KJVThe word translated “upholding” comes from the same Greek carry-and-bear root, describing all things as borne by power.

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:21 · KJVThe word translated “moved” comes from the same carry-and-bear root, portraying the speakers as carried by the Holy Ghost.

THE THREAD

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:21 · KJV

The Greek word translated “moved” comes from the same ⁨φέρω⁩ (pherō) root as the verb behind “let her drive.” In Acts the wind carries the ship and its crew; here the Set-Apart Breath carries the speakers.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us