What Does Luke 12:22 Mean in the King James?
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
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 Greek word for anxious concern is linked to dividing, exposing how fear parcels a whole life into separate needs.
THE MEANING
Your life is more than its food, and your body more than its clothing. The verse speaks to the present moment when concern divides itself among what must be eaten, worn, and secured, and names a life larger than each need.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
My life will be secure only if I keep every need under constant control.
THE ROOT
μη μεριμνᾶτε
mē merimnâte
GROWS FROM
μερίζω
merízō
to divide, distribute, or apportion
“take no thought” in this verse is mē merimnâte. Here μη μεριμνᾶτε (mē merimnâte) means “do not be anxious or concern yourselves.” The verb is commonly linked to μερίζω (merízō), “to divide or apportion,” giving anxious concern the image of attention parcelled among needs while the verse holds life and body as larger wholes.
ALSO GROWS
diamerízō: to divide up or distribute
διαμερίζω
This related verb makes the dividing image concrete: concern can split attention among separate demands.
merís: a part, share, or portion
μερίς
This related noun names what is apportioned; food and clothing are portions of life, not the whole of it.
THE PATTERN
Anxious concern divides attention among needs, while life is held within a care wider than any one need.
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.THE THREAD
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.Peter uses the same Greek word family for “care” that Luke uses for “take no thought.” The shared root opens a movement from divided concern to care cast upon God.
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