What Does James 1:21 Mean in the King James?
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
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 able to deliver your living self is already described as planted within you; what remains is its reception.
THE MEANING
Filthiness and excess are laid aside as the implanted word is received in meekness. It is pictured as planted within you, and it is able to deliver your living self, the person in the fullness of life.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that deliverance can begin only when something life-bearing is added from outside, because the word is already described as implanted within.
THE ROOT
ἔμφυτον
emphyton
GROWS FROM
φύω
phýō
To grow, spring forth, or bring forth.
“engrafted” in this verse is emphyton. The word is described as planted within, already growing inward rather than merely laid on from outside. “Receive” and “implanted” hold together welcome and prior planting: what delivers is present to be received.
ALSO GROWS
phytón: Plant; a growing thing.
φυτόν
This branch makes the growth carried by “implanted” visible: the word is like something planted and growing.
phýsis: Nature; what has grown into a thing’s constitution.
φύσις
It echoes the movement from a seed taking root to something becoming part of the living whole.
σῶσαι
sōsai
GROWS FROM
σῴζω
sōzō
To deliver, rescue, or bring safely through.
The word rendered “save” belongs to the same family as deliverance and deliverer. Here its reach is the living self: the implanted word can bring the person through what threatens life.
ALSO GROWS
sōtēria: Deliverance; rescue.
σωτηρία
It names the deliverance expressed by the verb in this verse.
sōtēr: Deliverer; rescuer.
σωτήρ
This branch gives the same root a personal form: the one who brings another through.
ψυχάς
psychas
GROWS FROM
ψυχή
psychē
Living soul; a person, self, or life.
The Greek word rendered “souls” can also name a person’s life. It gathers the whole living self into the verse’s promise of deliverance, rather than pointing only to an abstract inner part.
ALSO GROWS
psychikos: Pertaining to the living self or natural life.
ψυχικός
This adjective carries the same root into a description of a person’s lived nature.
empsychos: Living; animate; having life.
ἔμψυχος
It makes the root concrete as a living being, the kind of life this verse says can be delivered.
THE PATTERN
The life-bearing word is near and planted within, while what chokes its growth can be cleared away.
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.THE THREAD
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.Both verses use λόγος (logos), meaning “word” or “message.” James 1:18 connects this word with being brought forth; 1:21 calls it implanted and able to deliver the living self, linking its life-giving beginning with its continuing work.
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