What Does Colossians 4:7 Mean in the King James?
All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
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
Tychicus carries the news from within a bond of kinship and shared service, with brotherhood named before his work.
THE MEANING
The state of another person’s life can be made known to you through someone you can rely on. Tychicus is named as beloved kin, a steady minister, and a fellow-servant in the Lord; the message arrives through a bond of shared life.
THE ROOT
ἀδελφός
adelphos
GROWS FROM
δελφ-
delph-
Womb; the word’s older formation connects siblinghood with sharing a womb.
The word picture ties siblinghood to a shared origin. Since Tychicus is called brother before minister and fellow-servant, belonging is the first thing the verse tells you about him.
ALSO GROWS
delphys: womb
δελφύς
This body-word sits inside the traditional explanation of the sibling term.
adelphē: sister
ἀδελφή
The feminine sibling word shares the same kinship image as brother.
adelphotēs: brotherhood, kinship
ἀδελφότης
This branch names the shared bond that surrounds Tychicus’s individual role.
σύνδουλος
syndoulos
GROWS FROM
δουλ-
doul-
Servant; σύν- (syn-, “with”) joins the word for servant to name one who serves alongside another.
“fellow-servant” in this verse is syndoulos. The compound places Tychicus within shared service. His role belongs to a bond of working alongside others in the Lord.
ALSO GROWS
doulos: servant
δοῦλος
This base noun names the service that the compound makes shared.
douleuō: serve
δουλεύω
The related verb shows the action behind the title as an ongoing way of serving.
syndoulos: fellow-servant, one who serves with another
σύνδουλος
This is the verse’s word for Tychicus’s place alongside others in the work.
πιστός
pistos
GROWS FROM
πειθ-
peith-
Persuade, win trust; this word family centers on trust and reliance.
“faithful” in this verse is pistos. Here πιστός (pistos, “firm, steady”) describes the character of Tychicus’s ministry. The same word family connects that steadiness with trust: he is someone others can rely on to carry the message.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: persuade, win trust
πείθω
This root gives the word family its connection to trust.
pisteuō: trust, entrust oneself
πιστεύω
This related verb shows trust as a response of reliance.
pistis: trust, reliance
πίστις
This branch names the reliance made possible by a steady and trustworthy person.
THE PATTERN
A message reaches others through a person whose trustworthiness is embodied in service.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.THE THREAD
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;The same Greek compound σύνδουλος (syndoulos, “fellow-servant”) describes Epaphras in Colossians 1:7. The letter uses it again for Tychicus, placing both men within shared service as they carry what others need to know.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us