What Does Ephesians 2:17 Mean in the King James?

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Ephesians 2:17 · 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.

THE KEY

The Greek repeats “wholeness” for both the far and the near: neither distance receives a lesser welcome.

THE MEANING

Wholeness reaches you whether you feel far away or already near. The same announcement addresses both distances; there is no separate kind of welcome for either one.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

This undoes the belief that being far makes you unreachable, or being near makes you more entitled to wholeness.

THE ROOT

εἰρήνην

eirēnēn

GROWS FROM

εἰρην-

eirēn-

Wholeness; a joined, unbroken state.

The word here is ⁨εἰρήνην⁩ (eirēnēn), “wholeness,” and Greek repeats it before both the far and the near. English says “peace” once, but the sentence gives each the same word.

ALSO GROWS

eirēneuō: To be at peace; to live in peace.

εἰρηνεύω

The same word family describes wholeness as a lived condition, not just an announcement.

eirēnopoios: Peacemaker.

εἰρηνοποιός

This branch names one who makes peace, showing wholeness as something that brings divided sides together.

THE PATTERN

Wholeness is spoken across distance, reaching both the far and the near.

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

Isaiah 57:19 · KJVThe verse names peace for both the far and the near, then joins that word with healing.

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Acts 10:36 · KJVThe announcement of peace reaches beyond one boundary, as the verse declares its reach over all.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Colossians 1:20 · KJVPeace extends across the widest divide named here, gathering what is in heaven and on earth into reconciliation.

THE THREAD

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Ephesians 2:14 · KJV

The same Greek word for peace appears here as in verse 17. Verse 14 names wholeness as the force that makes both one and breaks down the partition; verse 17 announces that wholeness to the far and the near.

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