What Does John 14:31 Mean in the King James?
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
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
Love for the Father becomes knowable to the world through the action that carries the Father’s command into motion.
THE MEANING
Love for the Father is made visible in doing what the Father gives. The world can recognize that love through the action it sees, and the next words turn that action into movement: “Arise, let us go hence.”
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that love is real only as a private feeling: here, love becomes recognizable through what it does.
THE ROOT
γνῷ
gnō
GROWS FROM
γινωσκ-
ginōsk-
to know, recognize, perceive
The world comes to know this love by encountering its visible expression, not by receiving a definition of it. The sentence makes the action the encounter through which love becomes recognizable.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: to know, recognize, perceive
γινώσκω
This is the verb family behind “know”: recognition takes shape as the world sees what Jesus does.
gnōsis: knowledge, knowing
γνῶσις
The related noun names knowing itself; here, knowing grows out of seeing love enacted.
gnōstos: known, familiar
γνωστός
This related form shows the movement from something seen to someone or something recognized.
ποιῶ
poiō
GROWS FROM
ποιε-
poie-
to make, do, bring about
This verb belongs to a word family that includes both what is made and the one who makes or does. English “do” can sound bare, but here the action gives love a visible form the world can recognize.
ALSO GROWS
poiēma: a thing made, workmanship
ποίημα
The related word for something made highlights how action gives an inward relationship an outward form.
poiētēs: maker, doer
ποιητής
The related word names one who acts or makes; the verse centers love in what is carried out.
ἀγαπῶ
agapō
GROWS FROM
ἀγαπ-
agap-
to love, hold dear
The same word family names love itself and the beloved. Here, the verb stands beside “I do,” joining love to the act that makes it visible without making the two words mean the same thing.
ALSO GROWS
agapē: love
ἀγάπη
The related noun names the love Jesus says he has for the Father.
agapētos: beloved, dear
ἀγαπητός
This related form names one who is loved, keeping the family rooted in relationship.
THE PATTERN
Love becomes recognizable through the action it produces.
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.THE THREAD
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.Both verses use the Greek family for knowing, γινώσκω (ginōskō), meaning “to know, recognize, perceive,” and the family of ἐντολή (entolē), meaning “commandment.” Together they show knowing the Father becoming recognizable through the keeping that gives love visible form.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.
A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us