What Does Luke 11:32 Mean in the King James?
The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
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
Nineveh’s turn at a lesser proclamation becomes a verdict against those who hear the greater one and remain unmoved.
THE MEANING
The verse places the reader inside a living contrast: Nineveh turns at Jonah’s proclamation, while one greater than Jonah is here. Nineveh’s response becomes evidence against a generation that hears and does not turn.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A greater witness guarantees that its hearers will respond more fully.
THE ROOT
κρίσει
krisei
GROWS FROM
κρίνω
krinō
To judge, decide, or distinguish.
The Greek words translated “judgment” and “condemn” belong to the same κρίνω word family. English makes them sound like separate actions, but Luke connects the setting of judgment with the verdict against the generation.
ALSO GROWS
krinō: To judge or decide.
κρίνω
The base verb behind the judgment language in the verse.
krisis: Judgment or decision.
κρίσις
The noun used for the judgment in which Nineveh’s response becomes a witness.
katakrinō: To condemn, or pass judgment against.
κατακρίνω
The verb Luke uses for Nineveh’s verdict against the generation.
μετενόησαν
metenoēsan
GROWS FROM
νοέω
noeō
To perceive or think; with μετά, to change one’s mind or turn in thought.
The word translated “repented” describes a turn in thought and orientation. Here that turn is visible in the contrast: Nineveh responds to what it hears, and its response exposes the generation that does not turn.
ALSO GROWS
nous: Mind or understanding.
νοῦς
Shares the word family’s language of thought and perception.
noēma: Thought, purpose, or intention.
νόημα
Shows how the family can name what is held in the mind.
metanoeō: To change one’s mind; to turn.
μετανοέω
The verb underlying the form translated “repented” in this verse.
κήρυγμα
kērygma
GROWS FROM
κηρύσσω
kērussō
To proclaim publicly, as a herald.
“preaching” in this verse is kērygma. The word points to a proclamation, not merely the reputation of the person speaking. Nineveh turns at Jonah’s proclamation; that response makes the greater one who is here all the more revealing.
ALSO GROWS
kēryx: A herald or public messenger.
κῆρυξ
Names the one who carries a proclamation.
kērussō: To proclaim publicly.
κηρύσσω
The verb from the same word family as “preaching.”
kērygma: A proclamation or announced message.
κήρυγμα
The message to which Nineveh responds.
THE PATTERN
A response to a proclaimed word reveals the hearer, and refusal before a greater witness sharpens accountability.
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;THE THREAD
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.Luke’s words for “judgment” and “condemn” share the κρίνω family, and John uses that same family for the verdict carried by the rejected word. The connection sharpens Luke’s image: the response to the message becomes part of the judgment.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us