What Does John 18:18 Mean in the King James?
And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
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 charcoal fire beside Peter as he approaches denial is the same one-word image John brings back when Jesus meets him again.
THE MEANING
You can reach for warmth in a tense place and find yourself among people whose expectations press on what you say. The verse holds ordinary bodily need and Peter’s coming denial in the same frame. Yet the charcoal fire appears again when Peter is met by Jesus.
THE ROOT
ἀνθρακιά
anthrakia
GROWS FROM
ἄνθραξ
ánthrax
Coal or glowing charcoal.
“fire of coals” in this verse is anthrakia. The Greek ἀνθρακιά (anthrakia, charcoal fire) appears only twice in the New Testament: here, as Peter stands near the servants, and again at the lakeshore when Jesus meets him. The repeated word quietly joins Peter’s failure and his return.
ALSO GROWS
ánthrax: Coal; a glowing piece of charcoal.
ἄνθραξ
This is the noun behind ἀνθρακιά (anthrakia, charcoal fire), naming the material that marks both scenes.
anthrakia: A charcoal fire or heap of burning coals.
ἀνθρακιά
John uses this same word again at the lakeshore, carrying the setting beside Peter’s denial into the scene where Jesus meets him.
THE PATTERN
A place associated with failure can become the setting for renewed relationship.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.THE THREAD
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.The phrase “fire of coals” translates the same Greek word, ἀνθρακιά (anthrakia), in both verses. Here Peter stands beside it in the courtyard; there, the same word marks the lakeshore where Jesus meets him again.
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