What Does Ephesians 6:18 Mean in the King James?
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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
Prayer here is awake, persistent attention in the Breath, extending its asking to all who are set apart.
THE MEANING
Your prayer unfolds in the Spirit, whose Greek name πνεῦμα (pneuma) also means breath and wind, while watchfulness and perseverance keep its attention awake. Its supplication reaches beyond you to all who are set apart.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the idea that prayer is only a private, occasional request: here it is ongoing, alert, and reaches across the whole community of the set-apart.
THE ROOT
πνεύματι
pneumati
GROWS FROM
πνευ-
pneu-
To blow or breathe; breath, wind, or spirit.
The same Greek word can name breath, wind, or Spirit, so the English word “Spirit” carries a depth of breath and movement in this phrase. Prayer is shown taking place within that living Spirit.
ALSO GROWS
pneō: To blow or breathe.
πνέω
This verb makes the movement within the word for Spirit audible: prayer takes place in the breath that moves.
pnoē: Breath or blowing.
πνοή
This related noun keeps breath in view as the living movement named by πνεῦμα.
ἀγρυπνοῦντες
agrypnountes
GROWS FROM
ἀγρυπν-
agrypn-
To stay awake; wakefulness or sleeplessness.
The verb translated “watching” carries the sense of staying awake, not glancing briefly. Beside prayer and perseverance, it makes attention itself continuous and alert to the needs named in the verse.
ALSO GROWS
agrypnos: Sleepless or watchful.
ἄγρυπνος
This related adjective shows that watching is a state of wakefulness.
agrypnia: Wakefulness or sleeplessness.
ἀγρυπνία
This noun makes clear that the verse’s watching is sustained attention.
προσκαρτερήσει
proskarterēsei
GROWS FROM
καρτερ-
karter-
Steadfastness, endurance; remaining strong.
This word carries the sense of staying steadfastly at something. Here, perseverance gives prayer the staying power to keep supplication for all the set-apart ones in view.
ALSO GROWS
proskartereō: To persist or continue steadfastly.
προσκαρτερέω
The related verb describes the ongoing devotion embodied by “praying always.”
kartereō: To endure or remain steadfast.
καρτερέω
This related verb shows the strength of attention that continues through repeated asking.
THE PATTERN
Prayer becomes enduring watchfulness when it stays awake to the needs of the whole community.
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;THE THREAD
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.Romans uses πνεῦμα (pneuma, breath or Spirit), the same Greek word behind “in the Spirit” here. It shows this intercession continuing even when you do not know what to ask, holding prayer where words cannot reach.
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