What Does John 21:19 Mean in the King James?
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow 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
Peter’s death is not outside the path of following Jesus; it is where his life gives weight to God.
THE MEANING
This verse confronts you with a hard truth: following Jesus does not guarantee bodily safety. Peter’s death is not hidden or renamed; Jesus says it will give weight to God, then speaks the continuing call, “Follow me.”
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that following Jesus guarantees bodily safety: Peter’s path reaches death, and Jesus names that death as a way God is glorified.
THE ROOT
δοξάσει
doxasei
GROWS FROM
δοξ-
dox-
Honor, recognition, and what is given weight. Here, the word for glorifying God carries the sense of making God’s weight visible.
“glorify” in this verse is doxasei. The verse does not call death glorious in itself. It says Peter’s death will make God’s weight visible through the path Peter follows.
ALSO GROWS
doxa: Honor, glory, weight
δόξα
The noun holds together the honor given to God and the weight Peter’s death reveals.
doxazō: To glorify, honor, give recognition
δοξάζω
This verb names what Peter’s death does: it directs recognition and weight toward God.
σημαίνων
sēmainōn
GROWS FROM
σημα-
sēma-
A sign or signal; to make something known through a sign.
“signifying” in this verse is sēmainōn. Jesus presents Peter’s death as a sign of the shape his following will take. The violence remains plain, while its meaning is also made visible.
ALSO GROWS
sēma: Sign, mark
σῆμα
This root makes the predicted death more than an unnamed fate: it points to what Peter’s path will mean.
sēmeion: Sign, recognizable mark
σημεῖον
The related word shows how a visible event can point beyond itself, as Peter’s death points to God’s weight.
THE PATTERN
A life that belongs to God is not severed from God by death; even death can bear witness to that belonging.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.THE THREAD
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.The same Greek verb for “follow” appears in both verses. Here, Jesus’ command stands beside the death that will become Peter’s path, completing the earlier promise that Peter will follow afterwards.
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