What Does Luke 15:10 Mean in the King James?
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
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 person’s turning does not merely end the missing; it becomes the occasion for joy in God’s presence.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to you in the moment you turn: there is joy before God’s messengers over you, one person who has missed the way. Your missing does not erase your singularity; this turn has a place within heaven’s joy.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a history of missing leaves you permanently outside joy: here, the person who turns is the very one over whom joy is present.
THE ROOT
μετανοοῦντι
metanoounti
GROWS FROM
μετανοέω
metanoeō
Turn; the compound joins μετά (meta, “after” or “change”) with νοέω (noeō, “perceive” or “understand”).
The verb translated “repenteth” describes a turn in perception, not simply feeling sorry. The related noun μετάνοια (metanoia, “turning”) names this movement, which the verse places at the center of heaven’s joy.
ALSO GROWS
metanoia: turning
μετάνοια
The related noun names the movement itself; here that turn is the occasion for joy.
nous: mind, understanding
νοῦς
This related mind-word brings the change in perception into view beneath the English word “repenteth.”
ἁμαρτωλῷ
hamartōlō
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτάνω
hamartanō
Miss; fail to reach the mark. ἁμαρτωλῷ (hamartōlō) means “one who misses.”
The Greek word translated “sinner” belongs to the family of ἁμαρτία (hamartia, “missing”). Paired with turning, the verse does not make missing an unchangeable identity; it names the person whose turn becomes cause for joy.
ALSO GROWS
hamartia: missing, missing the mark
ἁμαρτία
The related noun shows the “sinner” as one associated with missing the mark.
hamartanō: to miss, to go wrong
ἁμαρτάνω
The verb makes missing an action or movement, held here alongside the person’s turn.
ἀγγέλων
angelōn
GROWS FROM
ἄγγελος
angelos
Messenger; one who carries a message.
The Greek word translated “angels” names messengers. The joy is before God’s messengers, and the same word-family appears in words for “message” and “good news.”
ALSO GROWS
angelia: message, announcement
ἀγγελία
This related word makes the messenger root audible in the scene.
euangelion: good news
εὐαγγέλιον
The word for “good news” includes the same messenger-word family.
THE PATTERN
Scripture presents divine joy as directed toward people, including the one who turns.
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.THE THREAD
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;Both verses use μετανοέω (metanoeō, “turn”): Luke has the form translated “repenteth,” and Acts has “Repent.” Acts links that same turn with missing being blotted out and refreshing; Luke reveals the joy surrounding the turn.
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