What Does John 16:9 Mean in the King James?
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
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
Here, sin is the missing that appears where trust in Jesus is absent.
THE MEANING
This verse names the missing in the reader as the absence of trust in Jesus. Trust is more than agreeing that he exists; it is leaning your full weight on him. The sentence places that trust at the center of what “sin” means here.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Sin is only a catalogue of outward acts; this verse also names the absence of trust in Jesus as the missing.
THE ROOT
ἁμαρτίας
hamartias
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτ-
hamart-
To miss, err, or fail to reach.
The word translated “sin” comes from ἁμαρτία (hamartia, “missing”). Here, the missing is exposed where trust in Jesus is absent, making the verse’s own explanation part of the word’s force.
ALSO GROWS
hamartanō: To miss, err, or sin.
ἁμαρτάνω
The verb shows the missing as something enacted, not merely a label.
hamartēma: An error, offense, or sin.
ἁμάρτημα
This branch names a particular instance of missing, linking the root’s broad sense to specific acts.
hamartōlos: A sinner; one who misses or errs.
ἁμαρτωλός
It describes a person through the same missing named in this verse.
πιστεύουσιν
pisteuousin
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust, reliance, or confidence.
“believe” in this verse is pisteuousin. The Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuō, “to trust”) names more than agreement with an idea: it is reliance, leaning your full weight on someone. The verse connects the missing to the absence of that trust in Jesus.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust, reliance, confidence.
πίστις
This noun names the trust enacted by the verb in the verse.
pistos: Firm, steady, trustworthy.
πιστός
This branch shows the steadiness that makes trust possible.
THE PATTERN
Trust in what God reveals is bound to life and to coming near to God.
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.THE THREAD
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.The same Greek πιστεύω (pisteuō, “to trust”) root appears here, making the “believe not” of John 16:9 a specific absence of trust. The closing phrase points to the Son’s name as nature: the trust at issue is trust in who he is.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us