What Does Luke 1:79 Mean in the King James?
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
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
Light reaches you while you are still seated in darkness, then directs your feet toward a path of wholeness.
THE MEANING
Light reaches you even as you remain in darkness and the shadow of death. Your feet are directed toward a way of wholeness, so peace is a path you enter, not a feeling you must produce.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that darkness has already decided where your life leads: your feet are still being directed toward wholeness.
THE ROOT
σκιᾷ
skia
GROWS FROM
σκιά
skia
Shadow, shade; something that covers or darkens.
The Greek word family for shadow also appears in Luke 1:35, where the Highest’s power shall overshadow Mary. The word names a covering; its source gives the image its character, here, death casts the shadow.
ALSO GROWS
skiazō: Cast a shadow; overshadow.
σκιάζω
Shows the shadow as an active covering, not merely an abstract idea of darkness.
episkiazō: Overshadow; cover with a shadow.
ἐπισκιάζω
This word appears in Luke 1:35, linking the shadow here to another kind of covering in the same chapter.
κατευθῦναι
kateuthynai
GROWS FROM
εὐθύς
euthys
Straight; direct.
The verb translated guide belongs to a word family about making straight and directing. The verse pictures the feet receiving a course toward wholeness, not simply being told that the destination exists.
ALSO GROWS
euthynō: Make straight; direct.
εὐθύνω
Shows the straightening and direction carried by the word family behind guide.
kateuthynō: Direct; guide toward a destination.
κατευθύνω
The verse’s verb belongs to this family of directing feet along a course.
εἰρήνης
eirēnēs
GROWS FROM
εἰρήνη
eirēnē
Peace, concord; wholeness.
The Greek word family includes both living in peace and making peace. Here, wholeness is not a still condition: it is a way your feet are guided into.
ALSO GROWS
eirēneuō: Live in peace; be at peace.
εἰρηνεύω
Shows peace as a condition that can be lived, not only named.
eirēnopoios: Peacemaker.
εἰρηνοποιός
Shows peace as something that can be made, fitting the verse’s picture of a way into wholeness.
THE PATTERN
Light reaches those within darkness and gives their feet a direction through it.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.THE THREAD
And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.Luke uses the same Greek word family in the shadow of death and in the Highest’s power overshadowing Mary. The word names a covering; what casts it shapes its meaning.
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