What Does Hebrews 13:23 Mean in the King James?
Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.
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 verb behind Timothy being “set at liberty” is also the verb Luke uses for “forgive”: in both places, something held is released.
THE MEANING
Timothy is released, while the meeting remains conditional on his coming soon. The verse holds freedom and reunion as distinct moments: the restraint is gone, and shared presence is still on its way. His name means “honoring God,” and the sentence calls him “our brother,” locating the hoped-for meeting within shared belonging.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Release does not mean every separation has already closed; Timothy is free, while reunion still depends on his arrival.
THE ROOT
ἀπολελυμένον
apolelymenon from apolýō
GROWS FROM
λυ- / λύω (lyō)
To loosen, untie, or release.
The word translated “set at liberty” is a form of ἀπολύω (apolýō, release), built on λύω (lyō, loosen). Luke uses this same verb for “forgive” in Luke 6:37, so one word can describe release from restraint and release from accusation.
ALSO GROWS
lyō: To loosen or untie.
λύω
It reveals the underlying image in Timothy’s release: what held him is loosened.
apólysis: Release or dismissal.
ἀπόλυσις
This noun carries the same release into the language of letting someone go.
ἀδελφὸν
adelphon from adelphós
GROWS FROM
δελφύς
delphýs
Womb; ἀδελφός (adelphós) carries the image of one from the same womb.
The word for brother holds an image of life shared at its source. Timothy is named as “our brother” before the hoped-for meeting, so the relationship is already present even while reunion is still conditional.
ALSO GROWS
adelphḗ: Sister, one from the same womb.
ἀδελφή
The feminine sibling word shares the same image of kinship from a common source.
adelphótēs: Brotherhood or sibling bond.
ἀδελφότης
The shared-root word extends that kinship into a bond held among siblings.
Τιμόθεον
Timótheon from Timótheos
GROWS FROM
τιμή (timḗ) + θεός (theós)
Honor + God: “honoring God.”
“Timothy” in this verse is Timótheon from Timótheos. The name joins τιμή (timḗ, honor) with θεός (theós, God), carrying the nature “honoring God.” In this sentence, the named brother is released and may soon be present with the writer and readers.
ALSO GROWS
timáō: To honor or esteem.
τιμάω
This verb carries the name’s honor element into an act of valuing.
theóphilos: A friend or lover of God.
θεόφιλος
This compound shares the name’s God-directed element and makes that relationship explicit.
THE PATTERN
Release loosens a restraint or claim so that movement and encounter can resume.
And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.THE THREAD
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:The Greek verb ἀπολύω (apolýō, release) behind “set at liberty” appears here as “forgive.” Hebrews uses release for Timothy; Luke uses the same word for letting go of accusation, so the verse’s language of freedom reaches both bodily restraint and relational burden.
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