What Does Colossians 4:5 Mean in the King James?
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
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 “time” being redeemed is a fitting moment wisdom can buy up while meeting people beyond your circle.
THE MEANING
Wisdom is visible in how you move among people outside your circle; your conduct carries meaning in the encounter itself. The moment is a fitting opening, and “redeeming” it pictures that opening as something bought up rather than allowed to pass unused.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that wisdom belongs only to private insight and that time is an interchangeable run of hours; here, wise conduct takes shape in the particular opening before you.
THE ROOT
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι
exagorazomenoi
GROWS FROM
ἀγοράζω (agorazō), with the prefix ἐξ (ex, out)
ἀγοράζω (agorazō) means to buy in a marketplace; with ἐξ (ex, out), ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō) means to buy out or redeem.
The verb translated “redeeming” is ἐξαγοραζόμενοι (exagorazomenoi, buying out), built on ἀγοράζω (agorazō, buying in a marketplace). Its market image presents the moment as an opportunity to acquire fully, giving “redeem” the feel of active use.
ALSO GROWS
agora: Marketplace or public square.
ἀγορά
This is the marketplace beneath the verb’s image: the opportunity is treated as something that can be acquired.
agorazō: To buy or purchase in a marketplace.
ἀγοράζω
This is the verb carried into ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō, buy out), making the sense of purchase audible beneath “redeeming.”
καιρόν
kairon
GROWS FROM
καιρός
kairos
A fitting season, proper occasion, or opportune moment.
The KJV’s “time” is καιρόν (kairon), from καιρός (kairos, a fitting occasion); χρόνος (chronos, measured duration) names elapsed time. This points the verse toward the opening itself, rather than a quantity of hours.
ALSO GROWS
eukairia: A favorable opportunity or fitting occasion.
εὐκαιρία
This related word makes clear that an occasion can carry a quality of readiness, as the moment in this verse does.
akairos: Untimely or out of season.
ἄκαιρος
Its opposite sense shows that kairos concerns whether a moment is fitting, not merely how much time passes.
THE PATTERN
Wisdom appears when what is said and done toward others is fitted to the opportunity at hand.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.THE THREAD
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Galatians uses ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō, buy out or redeem) for release from the curse, exposing the purchase image beneath “redeeming.” Here the object is καιρός (kairos, the fitting moment), so the same verb makes an opening something to secure and use fully.
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