What Does Luke 10:12 Mean in the King James?
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
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
“More tolerable” means more bearable: Sodom is not the heaviest measure of what refusal can bring.
THE MEANING
When the message reaches you, refusing what has come near carries a heavier reckoning. In that day, Sodom’s outcome is described as more bearable by comparison.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that hearing the message leaves you unaccountable: what reaches you carries consequence when you refuse it.
THE ROOT
ἀνεκτότερον
anektoteron
GROWS FROM
ἔχω (echō), in ἀνέχομαι (anechomai)
ἔχω (echō) means “hold” or “have”; in ἀνέχομαι (anechomai), it carries the sense of holding up against something, bearing or enduring it.
“tolerable” in this verse is anektoteron. The comparative ἀνεκτότερον comes through ἀνεκτός (anektos, “bearable”) from this family of words for bearing or enduring. The verse pictures judgment by what can be borne: Sodom’s outcome is more bearable than the refusal of the city receiving the message.
ALSO GROWS
anechomai: bear, endure, put up with
ἀνέχομαι
This verb-family gives “tolerable” its sense of what can be borne.
anochē: forbearance, restraint
ἀνοχή
This related noun shows the same bearing in the form of patience or restraint.
THE PATTERN
The more light that reaches a person, the more weight their refusal carries.
You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.THE THREAD
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?“Forbearance” here is ἀνοχή (anochē), from the same word family as ἀνέχομαι (anechomai, “bear, endure”) behind “tolerable.” Luke speaks of what is borne in judgment; Romans speaks of God’s forbearance giving room for turning.
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