What Does Luke 12:27 Mean in the King James?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
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
A lily’s beauty is not manufactured: even Solomon’s full splendor cannot dress himself as beautifully as a flower simply growing.
THE MEANING
You meet living beauty that is not produced by anxious work. The lily grows without toil or spinning, and Solomon’s splendor cannot match what appears in its simple form. The verse gives your attention an example of flourishing that does not depend on human manufacture.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that what is valuable must be earned, assembled, or made impressive through human effort.
THE ROOT
αὐξάνει
auxanei
GROWS FROM
αὐξ-
aux-
To grow, increase.
“grow” in this verse is auxanei. The verb holds growth and increase together: the lily is not an ornament assembled by labor, but a living thing expanding. Its beauty belongs to its growth rather than to a garment made for it.
ALSO GROWS
auxanō: To grow, increase.
αὐξάνω
This is the verb’s base form and keeps the idea of growth linked to increase.
auxēsis: Growth, increase.
αὔξησις
This related noun names growth itself, showing that the lily’s unfolding is the verse’s central image.
περιεβάλετο
periebaleto
GROWS FROM
βαλλ-
ball-
To throw, cast, put.
“arrayed” in this verse is periebaleto. The Greek verb pictures clothing as something thrown around oneself. Solomon’s array comes through what he wears, while the lily’s beauty is present in its living form; human adornment cannot reproduce that.
ALSO GROWS
ballō: To throw, cast, put.
βάλλω
This base verb supplies the action inside “arrayed,” making the clothing image more tangible.
ekballō: To cast out, drive out.
ἐκβάλλω
This compound shares the same root and shows how broadly the root’s basic sense of casting extends.
δόξῃ
doxē
GROWS FROM
δοκ-
dok-
Weight; what is regarded as substantial or worthy of honor.
“glory” in this verse is doxē. The word carries the sense of weight as well as splendor: Solomon gathers the full measure of visible honor, yet it does not equal a lily. The comparison weighs human prestige against a beauty prestige cannot reproduce.
ALSO GROWS
doxazō: To honor, glorify, regard as weighty.
δοξάζω
This related verb links glory with the honor or weight accorded to someone.
endoxos: Held in honor, splendid.
ἔνδοξος
This related word joins distinction with public honor, echoing Solomon’s full splendor.
THE PATTERN
Living beauty unfolds within provision beyond the reach of anxious human striving.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.THE THREAD
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:Luke and Matthew use the same Greek verb, αὐξάνω (auxanō), for the lilies’ growth. Matthew places that shared verb beside worry over clothing, making Luke’s comparison a direct invitation to see life growing into beauty that royal garments cannot match.
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