What Does John 7:40 Mean in the King James?
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
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 people recognize the Prophet by hearing his saying: the voice carries the identity.
THE MEANING
As you hear Jesus’s saying, the verse places recognition in the word received: the speaker is named as the Prophet. The title points to a voice bearing a word from God, so the saying reveals the one speaking.
THE ROOT
προφήτης
prophētēs
GROWS FROM
φη- (phē-, from φημί, phēmi)
Speak, say, declare; joined with προ- (pro-), this forms the title for one who speaks a message.
The title connects the Prophet to the speech he carries. In this verse, what he says makes the speaker recognizable.
ALSO GROWS
phēmi: Say, declare
φημί
This is the speaking seed within the title.
prophēteia: Prophecy, prophetic utterance
προφητεία
The word names the utterance associated with a prophet, tying the title to the spoken message.
prophēteuō: Prophesy, speak as a prophet
προφητεύω
The verb carries the title into action as speech.
ἀκούσαντες
akousantes
GROWS FROM
ἀκου-
akou-
Hear, listen.
The people hear the saying and answer with recognition: hearing moves into discernment here. Elsewhere, this word family can also describe heeding what is heard.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: Hearing; report
ἀκοή
The word can name both the act of hearing and what reaches the ear; here, hearing becomes the moment of recognition.
hypakouō: Heed, obey
ὑπακούω
The wider family links hearing with heeding, showing how a received word can call forth a response.
λόγων
logōn
GROWS FROM
λεγ- (leg-, from λέγω, legō)
Say, speak, tell; λόγος (logos) is a word, statement, or account.
The Greek word joins the saying to an articulated word, not just a sound. The people’s reply takes shape around what they have received and heard.
ALSO GROWS
legō: Say, speak
λέγω
This is the verbal seed behind the word for a saying.
dialogos: Conversation, dialogue
διάλογος
This word extends the same speech family into an exchange, echoing the people’s answer to what they hear.
THE PATTERN
The promised Prophet carries words from God, and his speech is given to be heard.
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.THE THREAD
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.Acts uses the same Greek word, προφήτης (prophētēs, prophet), and joins the title directly to hearing what he says. It makes the recognition in John 7:40 precise: hearing the word reveals the promised speaker.
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