What Does Luke 12:47 Mean in the King James?
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
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
Knowing the master’s will intensifies the servant’s accountability: he is unready, does not act, and receives many blows.
THE MEANING
You can know what is asked of you and still remain unready and inactive; the verse holds these failures together. Its consequence is stated plainly: the servant is beaten with many stripes.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that knowing what is right is already the same as doing it; the verse treats knowing, readiness, and action as distinct.
THE ROOT
γνούς
gnous
GROWS FROM
γινωσκ-
ginōsk-
to know, recognize, or perceive
“knew” in this verse is gnous. The verb belongs to the knowing-by-encounter word family, not merely the possession of information. The sentence sets that knowing beside readiness and action, so recognition alone does not count as carrying out the will.
ALSO GROWS
gnōsis: knowledge
γνῶσις
This branch names the knowledge that can exist without the action this verse also requires.
gnōrizō: make known, declare
γνωρίζω
The same word family reaches from knowing to making something known, showing knowledge as something that can enter expression.
ἑτοιμάσας
hetoimasas
GROWS FROM
ἑτοιμ-
hetoim-
ready, prepared
“prepared” in this verse is hetoimasas. This is make-ready language: the verse places not getting ready beside not doing, so readiness and action are distinct. The KJV’s “himself” highlights the servant’s own unpreparedness.
ALSO GROWS
hetoimos: ready, prepared
ἕτοιμος
The adjective names the state of readiness the servant has not reached.
hetoimasia: readiness, preparation
ἑτοιμασία
This noun makes preparation itself visible as a condition separate from carrying out the will.
δαρήσεται
darēsetai
GROWS FROM
δερ- (der-), from δέρω (derō)
to beat, strike, or flay
“beaten” in this verse is darēsetai. The verb names bodily beating, and “many” makes its extent explicit. The verse states the consequence without softening it.
ALSO GROWS
derō: beat, strike, or flay
δέρω
This is the verb family used for the servant’s punishment.
derma: skin
δέρμα
This related word keeps the root’s bodily sense in view.
dermatinos: made of skin or leather
δερμάτινος
This branch also carries the root into things made from skin, underscoring its concrete bodily field.
THE PATTERN
The more a person knows or is entrusted with, the more accountable the verse makes their response.
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?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.Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.THE THREAD
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.The word translated “known” here is ἐπιγινώσκω (epiginōskō, come to know), built on the same γνω- (gnō-, knowing) root family as “knew” in Luke. Both verses join knowing with what follows: turning away from the commandment carries greater weight than never knowing it.
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