What Does John 18:16 Mean in the King James?
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
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
Peter crosses the threshold because another person’s being known becomes a way in for him.
THE MEANING
Peter, the stone, stands outside until the recognized disciple steps out, speaks to the woman guarding the door, and brings him in. Here, knowing someone opens access that another person can share.
THE ROOT
γνωστός
gnōstos
GROWS FROM
γινώσκω
ginōskō
To know or recognize through familiarity or experience.
“known” in this verse is gnōstos. The disciple is not merely identified by a label; he is familiar to the high priest. That recognition becomes the hinge that lets him speak at the door and bring Peter inside.
ALSO GROWS
ginōskō: Know, recognize
γινώσκω
This is the verb underlying the word for the disciple being known.
gnōsis: Knowledge, knowing
γνῶσις
It shares the same word-family, showing how Greek connects knowing with knowledge.
gnōstos: Known, familiar
γνωστός
This is the form used for the disciple, whose familiarity gives him access to the door keeper.
Πέτρον
Petron
GROWS FROM
πετρ-
Stone or rock.
Peter’s name carries the image of a stone, and here the one called “stone” is still outside until another leads him in. The name adds a concrete echo to the scene’s movement across the threshold.
ALSO GROWS
Petros: Stone; Peter
Πέτρος
This is the name used for Peter and carries the image of a stone.
petra: Rock, rocky ground
πέτρα
This related word shares the stone-and-rock image behind Peter’s name.
THE PATTERN
A recognized relationship can open a guarded threshold and bring someone else inside.
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.THE THREAD
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.Both verses use the γινώσκω (ginōskō, know or recognize) word-family: John 18:16 calls the disciple γνωστός (gnōstos, known or familiar) to the high priest, while John 10:14 describes knowing as mutual. In this scene, recognition becomes the means by which someone outside is led through a door.
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