What Does Luke 16:31 Mean in the King James?
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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 missing thing is not another sign but hearing that opens into trust.
THE MEANING
This verse names the limit of proof: you can encounter truth and still refuse to be persuaded. Even a resurrection does not compel trust when the witness already before you is not received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that one more spectacular proof must convince anyone: a sign cannot force trust in someone who will not receive the witness already present.
THE ROOT
πεισθήσονται
peisthēsontai
GROWS FROM
πειθ-
To persuade or win over; in the passive, to be convinced or trust.
The verse uses the passive form of πείθω (peithō): they will be persuaded, or won over. The related noun πίστις (pistis) means trust or confidence, so the contrast is between seeing a sign and being moved into trust.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust, confidence
πίστις
This related word shows that persuasion reaches beyond hearing a claim: it can become trust.
apeitheō: Refuse to be persuaded; disobey
ἀπειθέω
This related formation names the refusal that stands opposite to being persuaded.
ἀκούσωσιν
akousōsin
GROWS FROM
ἀκου-
To hear or listen.
“hear” in this verse is akousōsin. The same word-family can name hearing a report, while ὑπακούω (hypakouō) carries listening through to obedience. The verse places the break before persuasion: what is already spoken has not been received.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: Hearing; a report
ἀκοή
It connects hearing with the message received, not only the act of detecting sound.
hypakouō: Listen to; obey
ὑπακούω
It shows how hearing can extend into a response to what is heard.
THE PATTERN
More evidence cannot produce reception where the witness already present is not heard.
Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:THE THREAD
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.Luke 16:29 uses the same verb, ἀκούω (akouō), for the response Abraham says is needed: hearing Moses and the prophets. Verse 31 sharpens the point: another sign cannot replace the hearing that opens into trust.
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