What Does John 6:2 Mean in the King James?
And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
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 miracles are signs: what happens to the weakened points beyond the act to the one acting.
THE MEANING
Following begins in what is seen: the signs become visible in what happens to those with diminished strength. Jesus’ action upon the weakened makes something more than spectacle perceptible, the act points toward the one acting. The verse shows a movement from observation to following.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A visible wonder is only an event with no direction; the word here also means a sign, something that points.
THE ROOT
σημεῖα
sēmeia
GROWS FROM
σημ-
sēm-
A sign or mark that indicates something.
The Greek word translated “miracles” is sēmeia, signs or markers. Its word family includes σῆμα (sēma), a sign or mark, and σημαίνω (sēmainō), to signify or indicate: the act is not only astonishing, it points. Here, its direction is visible in what Jesus does upon the weakened.
ALSO GROWS
sēma: Sign, mark, or token.
σῆμα
This related word shows the shared idea of a mark that makes something known; the deeds Jesus performs function as signs.
sēmainō: To signify, indicate, or make known by a sign.
σημαίνω
It carries the movement from a visible act to what that act indicates about the one acting.
ἀσθενούντων
asthenountōn
GROWS FROM
ἀ- + σθένος (a- + sthenos)
Without strength; weakened.
The word rendered “diseased” comes from astheneō, to be weak or without strength, formed from ἀ- (a-, “without”) and σθένος (sthenos, “strength”). English names a condition; the Greek also lets you see the weakened ones as the very place where the sign becomes visible.
ALSO GROWS
asthenēs: Weak or without strength.
ἀσθενής
This adjective makes explicit the weakness already present in the word used for those Jesus acts upon.
astheneia: Weakness or infirmity.
ἀσθένεια
This noun names the weakened condition that gives the sign its visible setting.
THE PATTERN
A sign is a visible act that directs the observer toward the one whose action it reveals.
And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:THE THREAD
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:John uses the same Greek word family: sēmeia, signs. In John 6:2, the sign is seen in what Jesus does upon the weakened; here, those visible acts are named as signs that direct attention toward Jesus.
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