What Does John 12:20 Mean in the King James?
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at 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
The Greeks come to the feast by way of a bow: the word translated “worship” carries the body into their approach.
THE MEANING
The verse keeps the Greeks named as Greeks as they draw near among the worshippers. Their approach is expressed as bowing down, with their identity still visible.
THE ROOT
προσκυνήσωσιν
proskynēsōsin
GROWS FROM
προσκυνέω
proskyneō
To bow down, prostrate oneself, or render obeisance.
“worship” in this verse is proskynēsōsin. The Greeks’ purpose is a bodily act of lowering themselves in reverence. Their approach to the feast carries their identity with it; the verse does not erase who they are as they bow.
ALSO GROWS
proskynēsis: The act of bowing down or worship.
προσκύνησις
This noun makes the bodily posture within the verse’s act of worship explicit.
proskynētēs: A worshipper; one who bows down.
προσκυνητής
This names the person by the posture of approach that the Greeks take up here.
THE PATTERN
The approach to God opens across peoples, gathering worshippers whose identities remain distinct.
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,THE THREAD
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,Acts uses the same Greek verb translated “worship,” with the sense of bowing down. John names Greeks coming to worship; Acts shows an Ethiopian official making the same approach, so the shared posture crosses distinct identities.
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