What Does John 11:56 Mean in the King James?
Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
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
They keep looking for Jesus while questioning whether he will appear.
THE MEANING
You can search for Jesus and still be uncertain whether he will arrive where you expect him. The search continues while the question remains unanswered.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the assumption that seeking proves certainty: those looking for Jesus still ask whether he will come.
THE ROOT
ἐζήτουν
ezētoun
GROWS FROM
ζητ
ζητ (zēt): to seek, search, inquire
“sought” in this verse is ezētoun. The Greek verb presents their search as continuing: they are still looking for him. This same root forms words for seeking and inquiry, placing their search beside the unresolved question of whether he will come.
ALSO GROWS
zēteō: to seek, search for
ζητέω
This is the dictionary form of the verb translated “sought,” revealing the action beneath the verse.
zētēsis: seeking, inquiry
ζήτησις
This noun carries the root from searching into inquiry, echoing the question the searchers ask among themselves.
zētētēs: seeker, inquirer
ζητητής
This word names the one who seeks, making the searchers’ posture visible as more than a completed action.
THE PATTERN
Seeking moves a question toward encounter, while the seeker’s uncertainty remains visible until a response arrives.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?THE THREAD
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?The Greek root for “seek” appears in both verses. Here people searching for Jesus ask whether he will come; in John 1:38, Jesus turns the search into a direct question: “What seek ye?”
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