What Does John 14:5 Mean in the King James?
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
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
Thomas asks for a route, but Jesus’ answer makes the way a presence to know rather than a destination to map.
THE MEANING
This question gives voice to the reader’s uncertainty when the destination is not visible: how can the way be known? Jesus answers in the next verse by naming himself as the way, so knowing becomes encounter rather than advance information.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You must see the destination before the way can be known.
THE ROOT
οἴδαμεν
oídamen
GROWS FROM
εἴδω
eídō
To see or perceive; its perfect form carries the present sense “know.”
Thomas uses the same seeing-and-perceiving verb for both “we know” and “know the way.” His question holds the tension between not seeing the destination and needing to perceive a path.
ALSO GROWS
oida: Know, perceive
οἶδα
This is the verb form behind “we know,” preserving the sense of perception beneath the English word.
eidos: Form, appearance
εἶδος
This related word names what is seen, keeping the word family’s connection between knowing and perception visible.
ὁδός
hodós
GROWS FROM
ὁδός
hodós
Road or path; also a journey or course of movement.
Thomas asks how the way can be known, and Jesus uses this same word in the next verse to identify himself as the way. The question about a route opens into recognition of a person.
ALSO GROWS
éxodos: Way out, departure
ἔξοδος
This compound carries ὁδός (hodós, way) into the sense of an exit or departure, showing that a way can lead out.
hodoiporía: Journey, travel
ὁδοιπορία
This word joins ὁδός (hodós, way) with travel, making the way a movement through a journey.
THE PATTERN
The way can become knowable without the whole destination being visible in advance.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.THE THREAD
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.Jesus answers Thomas with the same Greek word for “way,” ὁδός (hodós). The answer turns the request for directions into a recognition: the way is encountered in him.
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