What Does Luke 10:35 Mean in the King James?
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
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 cost of care is left open on purpose: the rescuer entrusts the wounded man’s ongoing need to someone else and promises to answer for whatever more it takes.
THE MEANING
Care continues beyond the first rescue: another person receives responsibility and provision to tend the wounded man. The cost has no stated ceiling, and the one who leaves promises to return and repay whatever more is spent.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that entrusting care to someone else means abandoning it: responsibility travels with provision and a promise to return.
THE ROOT
ἀποδώσω
apodōsō
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
To give; in this word, to give back or repay.
The word translated “repay” carries “give” inside it: ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) means “give back,” from δίδωμι (didōmi), “give.” The additional spending is treated as provision the departing Samaritan takes responsibility for when he returns.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give.
δίδωμι
The root makes the promised repayment a form of giving, not a separate idea from provision.
paradidōmi: To hand over, deliver, or entrust.
παραδίδωμι
This branch echoes how care and resources are handed to the host to continue the work.
ἐπιμελήθητι
epimelēthēti
GROWS FROM
μέλω
melō
To matter or be a concern; to receive care.
“Take care” in this verse is epimelēthēti. The verb for care belongs to a word family rooted in what matters and draws concern. The wounded man continues to matter after the first rescuer leaves; care takes the form of sustained attention through another person.
ALSO GROWS
melei: It matters; it concerns.
μέλει
This form makes care more than a task: the wounded person’s need remains a matter of concern.
epimeleia: Care or attention.
ἐπιμέλεια
This related noun names the sustained attention the host is entrusted to give.
THE PATTERN
Care becomes durable through material provision, with the giver remaining answerable for what the need costs.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?THE THREAD
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.The same care-verb appears in both verses. In this verse care binds wounds, supplies transport, and brings the injured man to shelter; the next verse extends that care through the host and an open-ended promise to repay.
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