What Does Acts 5:34 Mean in the King James?

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

Acts 5:34 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Gamaliel’s esteem among the people does more than describe him: it gives him enough standing to make a pause before the council acts.

THE MEANING

When a charged decision gathers speed, recognized standing can interrupt its momentum and make a little room. Reputation has practical force here: it moves the apostles aside for a brief interval. The verse holds that pause open before anything further is decided.

THE ROOT

τίμιος

tímios

GROWS FROM

τιμ

tim

worth, value, honor

“had in reputation” in this verse is tímios. ⁨τίμιος⁩ (tímios) means honored, valued, or precious; the phrase carries public esteem as a recognition of worth. The same ⁨τιμ⁩ (tim) family names both the value recognized and the act of honoring, so Gamaliel’s reputation functions as social weight that can secure a pause.

ALSO GROWS

timē: honor, value, or worth

τιμή

This noun makes visible the worth behind the esteem the verse attributes to Gamaliel.

timaō: to honor or assign value

τιμάω

This verb shows honor as an act that recognizes worth, not merely a reputation someone possesses.

גמליאל

Gamaliel

GROWS FROM

גמל

g-m-l

to deal fully, requite, or repay

The name joins ⁨גמל⁩ (g-m-l, to requite or repay) with ⁨אֵל⁩ (ʾEl, God), and is commonly understood as “God has rewarded” or “reward of God.” The verse places this name beside the esteem Gamaliel receives from the people, adding the language of recompense to his public honor.

ALSO GROWS

gāmal: to deal with, requite, or repay

גָּמַל

This verb carries the root’s sense of a return or response, a layer present in the name Gamaliel.

gemul: recompense or repayment

גְּמוּל

This noun makes the root’s idea of return explicit and echoes the reward sense commonly heard in Gamaliel’s name.

THE PATTERN

A measured judgment begins by making room to hear before deciding.

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

Proverbs 18:13 · KJVThe verse names the failure that a pause can prevent: answering before hearing.

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Ecclesiastes 3:7 · KJVThe verse recognizes silence and speech as distinct moments, making room itself part of sound judgment.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

James 1:19 · KJVThe verse links careful listening with restraint before speech and anger.

THE THREAD

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

1 Peter 2:17 · KJV

Acts calls Gamaliel ⁨τίμιος⁩ (tímios, honored or valued); Peter uses the same ⁨τιμ⁩ (tim, honor or value) family in “Honour all men” and “Honour the king.” The shared root links public reputation with recognizing worth across people, not only in a person of standing.

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