What Does Hebrews 12:14 Mean in the King James?
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see 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
The word translated “follow” describes a chase: peace and set-apartness are pursued realities, not passive labels.
THE MEANING
Peace with everyone and a life set apart are active pursuits in the reader’s life now. The verse binds these pursuits to seeing the Lord: that seeing is not detached from the way a person lives among others.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that seeing the Lord is detached from how a person pursues peace and set-apartness in daily life.
THE ROOT
διώκετε
diōkete
GROWS FROM
διώκω
diōkō
Pursue or chase; the same verb can also describe persecuting pursuit.
“Follow” in this verse is diōkete. The verb carries the force of a chase, not a passive following. Its direction matters: here that force is turned toward peace with everyone.
ALSO GROWS
diōgmos: Pursuit, persecution.
διωγμός
It shows that the word family can describe pursuit that harms; here the pursued aim is peace.
diōktēs: Persecutor, pursuer.
διώκτης
This branch makes the active force of the verb visible: pursuit is an action aimed somewhere.
εἰρήνην
eirēnēn
GROWS FROM
εἰρήνη
eirēnē
Peace, concord, wholeness.
The word family includes both being at peace and making peace. In this verse, wholeness is pursued in relationship, with all, rather than treated as private calm alone.
ALSO GROWS
eirēneuō: Be or live at peace.
εἰρηνεύω
This verb shows peace as a lived condition, not only an idea.
eirēnopoios: Peacemaker.
εἰρηνοποιός
This branch makes explicit the active work implicit in pursuing peace.
ἁγιασμόν
hagiasmon
GROWS FROM
ἁγιασμός
hagiasmos
Set-apartness, consecration.
“holiness” in this verse is hagiasmon. The word carries the sense of being set apart, a distinct direction in life. The verse holds that direction together with pursuing peace among people.
ALSO GROWS
hagiazō: Set apart, consecrate.
ἁγιάζω
This verb shows set-apartness as something enacted, not merely a label.
hagios: Set apart, sacred.
ἅγιος
This related word brings the quality of set-apartness into view beneath “holiness.”
THE PATTERN
Peace is a shared wholeness that scripture presents as something to seek and pursue.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.THE THREAD
Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.Peter uses the same Greek words: εἰρήνη (eirēnē, peace or wholeness) and διώκω (diōkō, pursue). Hebrews’ call to pursue peace with all men echoes this image of peace as something actively sought and chased.
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