What Does Luke 1:41 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
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
A child’s leap and Elisabeth’s filling with pneuma, breath, belong to the same embodied moment.
THE MEANING
A voice reaches the body, and life responds: the child moves while Elisabeth is filled with set-apart breath. The verse holds bodily movement and sacred presence together, even before the moment is fully explained.
THE ROOT
πνεύματος
pneumatos
GROWS FROM
πνευ-
pneu-
Breath or wind in motion; the word family carries both meanings.
The English “Ghost” renders πνεύματος (pneumatos), the form of πνεῦμα (pneuma, breath/wind) used here. Its kin πνεύμων (pneumōn, lung) keeps this word family close to the breathing body, so Elisabeth’s filling and the child’s leap occupy one scene.
ALSO GROWS
pnéō: Breathe, blow
πνέω
This verb gives the breath-and-wind family its motion.
pneumōn: Lung, a breathing organ
πνεύμων
The same word family reaches into the body that breathes.
ἐσκίρτησεν
eskirtēsen
GROWS FROM
σκίρτ-
skirt-
To leap or spring.
The same verb returns in the next verse, where Elisabeth says the child leaped for joy when Mary’s voice reached her. The repeated word presents the movement as a response, not an isolated detail.
ALSO GROWS
eskirtēsen: Leaped
ἐσκίρτησεν
Elisabeth uses this same form in Luke 1:44 to name the child’s movement at the sound of Mary’s greeting.
skirtēsate: Leap for joy
σκιρτήσατε
In Luke 6:23, the same verb family describes leaping as an expression of joy.
THE PATTERN
When life meets deliverance or divine presence, the response can become a visible leap.
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.THE THREAD
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.The same Greek verb, σκίρτω (skirtō, to leap or spring), returns as Elisabeth names the child’s movement at the sound of Mary’s voice. Its repetition connects the greeting, the body’s response, and joy in one unfolding moment.
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