What Does Hebrews 13:18 Mean in the King James?
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
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
A clear conscience does not cancel dependence: the speakers trust their integrity and still ask for prayer.
THE MEANING
You can name an honest conscience without treating it as proof that you need no help; the request for prayer sits right beside the confidence. The integrity described here reaches into “all things”: it is a present willingness to conduct yourself honorably, not a claim that every choice is beyond examination.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the idea that asking for prayer admits you lack integrity: here the request comes from people who trust their conscience.
THE ROOT
συνείδησιν
syneidēsin
GROWS FROM
οἶδα (oida), built on εἴδω (eidō)
οἶδα (oida) means to know or perceive; εἴδω (eidō) means to see.
Συνείδησις (syneidēsis, conscience) is built from σύν (syn, with) and οἶδα (oida, know): a knowing-with, an awareness accompanying one’s own conduct. “Good conscience” therefore names an inner awareness tied to how one lives, not merely a favorable opinion of oneself.
ALSO GROWS
oida: know, perceive
οἶδα
This is the knowing element inside the Greek word for conscience.
synoida: be conscious with; share awareness
σύνοιδα
This related word carries the sense of awareness that accompanies one’s own actions.
πεποίθαμεν
pepoithamen
GROWS FROM
πείθω
peithō
To persuade or convince; in the form used here, to have become persuaded and so trust.
The speakers’ trust is a settled persuasion, not a claim that they know everything. It appears beside their request for prayer, so assurance and dependence coexist.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: persuade, convince
πείθω
The base verb shows that the confidence in this verse is grounded in persuasion.
pepoithēsis: confidence, assurance
πεποίθησις
This related noun names the confidence that grows from being persuaded.
THE PATTERN
Inner integrity becomes meaningful as a willingness to live honorably across the whole of life.
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.THE THREAD
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.Acts uses the same Greek word συνείδησις (syneidēsis, conscience) as Hebrews 13:18. It likewise pairs inner awareness with a continuing aim toward conduct before God and people, opening conscience as a lived orientation.
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