What Does John 6:64 Mean in the King James?
But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
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 verse distinguishes not trusting Jesus from handing him over, while showing that both are already known to him.
THE MEANING
Right now, the verse names distrust and betrayal as things Jesus sees clearly, even before they unfold. A person’s lack of trust does not make that person unknown to him.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being known by Jesus is not proof that a person trusts him; he knows those who do not trust him too.
THE ROOT
πιστεύω
pisteuō
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust or rely on; the word family carries the sense of leaning one’s weight on someone.
The word family presents believing as reliance, not merely agreement with an idea. Here, “believe not” names the absence of that reliance on Jesus.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust or reliance that leans its weight on someone.
πίστις
This noun makes clear that the verse concerns a posture of reliance, not just whether someone accepts a claim.
pistos: Firm or steady; also trustworthy.
πιστός
The family’s sense of steadiness helps show the kind of reliance that is absent where the verse says “believe not.”
γινώσκω
ginōskō
GROWS FROM
γινωσκ-
ginōsk-
To know, recognize, or perceive.
“knew” in this verse is ginōskō. The verse says Jesus knows who does not trust and who will hand him over; neither is hidden from him. “From the beginning” places that knowing before the betrayal unfolds.
ALSO GROWS
gnōsis: Knowledge or knowing.
γνῶσις
This related noun shows the same knowing family beneath English words that can sound like information alone.
epiginōskō: To recognize or perceive.
ἐπιγινώσκω
This related verb reinforces the sense of seeing or recognizing a person, not merely knowing a fact about them.
παραδίδωμι
paradidōmi
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι (didōmi), with παρά (para-)
To give over or hand over; δίδωμι means “give,” and the compound carries the sense of handing over.
English “betray” foregrounds treachery, while the Greek verb names the act as handing Jesus over. The same verb can appear elsewhere as “deliver up,” so the sentence supplies the motive and meaning of the act.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give or place.
δίδωμι
The compound retains the concrete action of giving, now directed toward handing someone over.
paradosis: A handing over or transmission; in some contexts, a tradition.
παράδοσις
This related form keeps the transfer sense visible beneath English words that may emphasize betrayal or custom.
THE PATTERN
What is hidden in a person is fully visible to God.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.THE THREAD
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?The same Greek verb underlies “betray” in John and “delivered him up” in Romans; in both places it names a handing over. The shared word reveals the act beneath John’s English phrasing, while each sentence gives that act a different agent and purpose.
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