What Does Acts 4:35 Mean in the King James?
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
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 translated “distribution” pictures provision passing through the community, so what is laid down becomes available for each person’s particular need.
THE MEANING
Shared provision moves toward each person’s actual need; the portions do not have to be identical. What is set down among the community is given across so that each person receives according to what they need.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that sharing means identical portions, or that another person’s need is separate from what the community holds.
THE ROOT
διεδίδετο
diedideto
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
To give; in διαδίδωμι (diadidōmi), the giving is distributed through or across recipients.
“distribution” in this verse is diedideto. The verse’s verb is διαδίδωμι (diadidōmi), “distribute,” built on δίδωμι (didōmi), “give.” Provision is not merely divided up: it moves from what has been laid down toward each person according to need.
ALSO GROWS
metadidōmi: Impart, share
μεταδίδωμι
Romans 12:8 uses this compound of the same giving root; it names what happens when a gift is passed on to others.
paradidōmi: Hand over, deliver
παραδίδωμι
This branch shows the same root in an act of handing something onward, echoing provision moving beyond the person who first held it.
apodidōmi: Give back, render
ἀποδίδωμι
Here, too, giving is responsive: what is given answers to what is due or needed.
THE PATTERN
Provision becomes common as what is held moves toward each person’s actual need.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:THE THREAD
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.Acts uses διαδίδωμι (diadidōmi), “distribute”; Romans uses μεταδίδωμι (metadidōmi), “share” or “impart.” Both grow from δίδωμι (didōmi), “give”: the same root names provision moving from one person to another.
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