What Does Hebrews 10:27 Mean in the King James?
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
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 verse’s “fiery indignation” is a “zeal of fire,” so judgment arrives as a consuming force.
THE MEANING
You meet judgment here as fearful expectation and as fire that devours the adversaries. The verse gives its warning a stark finality: opposition faces a force that consumes.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that opposition can remain untouched by judgment: the verse pictures the adversaries as consumed.
THE ROOT
πυρὸς ζῆλος
pyros zēlos
GROWS FROM
ζηλ-
zēl-
zeal, ardor, fervor; also jealousy
The KJV’s “fiery indignation” renders πυρὸς ζῆλος, a “zeal of fire.” ζῆλος names fervent ardor, giving the image the force of consuming zeal directed against the adversaries.
ALSO GROWS
zēloō: to be zealous, ardently desire, or envy
ζηλόω
The verb shows the ardent force carried by ζῆλος.
zēlōtēs: a zealous person or enthusiast
ζηλωτής
This related noun makes zeal visible as an active quality.
κρίσεως
kriseōs
GROWS FROM
κρίνω (krinō), κριν- (krin-)
to distinguish, decide, or judge
κρίσις belongs to the word family of κρίνω, “to decide” or “judge.” The root places the consuming fire within an act of judgment, rather than leaving it as a free-floating image.
ALSO GROWS
krinō: to decide or judge
κρίνω
This verb from the same family appears in the connected verse, where the Lord “shall judge.”
kritēs: a judge
κριτής
The person noun shows the same family naming the one who makes a judgment.
krima: a judgment or verdict
κρίμα
This related noun makes the outcome of judging explicit.
THE PATTERN
Judgment is pictured as fire that advances against opposition and consumes it.
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.For our God is a consuming fire.THE THREAD
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.Hebrews 10:27 uses κρίσις (krisis), “judgment”; this verse uses κρίνει (krinei), “shall judge,” from the same κρίνω (krinō) word family. It moves from the fire of judgment to the one who judges: the Lord.
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