What Does Acts 4:19 Mean in the King James?
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
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 verse makes hearing a question of allegiance: whose voice receives your response when human commands and God’s claim conflict?
THE MEANING
When voices compete for your obedience, the question is whether your response is right in God’s sight. Hearing becomes an act of discernment: the voice that commands does not settle the question by itself. “Judge ye” places that test before you now.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A human command must be obeyed simply because it comes from someone with authority.
THE ROOT
ἀκούειν
akouein
GROWS FROM
ἀκου-
akou-
To hear, listen, or heed.
“hearken” in this verse is akouein. Greek ἀκούω (akouō, hear or listen) can describe hearing that reaches into heeding. The question is not only which voice reaches the ear, but which voice receives a response.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: Hearing, or what is heard.
ἀκοή
This branch keeps hearing connected to the message received, not just the physical act of listening.
hypakouō: To listen attentively and obey.
ὑπακούω
Its shared ἀκου- (akou-, hear or listen) family makes visible how hearing can become a response.
κρίνετε
krinete
GROWS FROM
κριν-
krin-
To separate or distinguish, then decide or judge.
The command “judge ye” calls for discernment, not reflexive agreement. The hearers are asked to weigh the question of what is right before God.
ALSO GROWS
krisis: A judgment or decision.
κρίσις
This branch shows that discernment reaches a decision about what is heard.
kritēs: One who judges or decides.
κριτής
The word for a judge shares the same κριν- (krin-, distinguish or decide) root family as the command to judge.
δίκαιον
dikaion
GROWS FROM
δικ-
dik-
Justness or what stands in right relation.
The question asks whether this choice is aligned in God’s sight. “Right” here carries the weight of justness, not merely what is convenient or permitted.
ALSO GROWS
dikaiosynē: Justice, righteousness, or alignment.
δικαιοσύνη
This related word extends the question of what is right into a broader state of alignment.
dikaioō: To regard or declare someone as right.
δικαιόω
This branch keeps the word family connected to the question of what is judged right.
THE PATTERN
When human commands conflict with God’s claim, allegiance becomes visible in what a person chooses to obey.
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.THE THREAD
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:The verb “hear” here shares the ἀκου- (akou-, hear or listen) word family with “hearken” in Acts. John connects hearing with recognition and following; Acts places competing voices before you and asks which one your hearing answers.
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