What Does John 10:10 Mean in the King James?
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
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 sets a life reduced to ruin against a life that exceeds its measure.
THE MEANING
The thief takes, slaughters, and brings ruin; Jesus comes so you may have life in surplus. This life is more than bare continuation: it overflows the measure loss tries to leave you with. The verse speaks of that contrast now, in the life you are living.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that life is only survival after loss: the life Jesus gives is described as exceeding its measure.
THE ROOT
περισσόν
perisson
GROWS FROM
περισσ-
periss-
surplus; what exceeds the ordinary measure
“abundantly” in this verse is perisson. The word carries the sense of more than enough, beyond what is required. The verse presents life as exceeding the measure of mere survival.
ALSO GROWS
perisseuō: to abound, overflow
περισσεύω
The same word family makes abundance an active overflow, not just a larger quantity.
perisseia: abundance, surplus
περισσεία
This noun names the excess that the verse says life can hold.
ἀπολέσῃ
apolesē
GROWS FROM
ἀπολλυ-
apolly-
to lose, perish, or ruin
“destroy” in this verse is apolesē. The word can describe both destroying and perishing, giving the thief’s work a wider reach than one destructive act. Against it, Jesus comes to give ζωή (zōē, life) in surplus.
ALSO GROWS
apōleia: ruin, destruction, loss
ἀπώλεια
This noun shows the ruin named by the same Greek word family.
apollymenos: perishing, being lost
ἀπολλύμενος
This form describes the state of perishing, extending the contrast from destruction to a life being lost.
THE PATTERN
Life from God exceeds what can be contained or measured, flowing outward as abundance.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,THE THREAD
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.Both verses use ζωή (zōē, life): John 1:4 names that life as light for humanity. It opens the abundance in John 10:10 as illuminating life, not merely more days.
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