What Does Luke 18:41 Mean in the King James?
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
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 word translated “receive my sight” also means “look up” or “regain sight,” so the request holds seeing as a capacity restored.
THE MEANING
The question gives this need room to be named plainly: he wants to see. The verb translated “receive my sight” can also mean “look up” or “regain sight,” holding restored seeing and an upward gaze in one word. The verse catches you at the moment a need becomes speakable.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
You must justify your need before it can be named: Jesus asks what the man wants, and the answer needs no defense.
THE ROOT
ἀναβλέψω
anablepsō
GROWS FROM
βλεπ-
blep-
The Greek verbal stem for looking or seeing.
“receive my sight” in this verse is anablepsō. The verb ἀναβλέψω (anablepsō, “look up” or “regain sight”) is built on βλέπω (blepō, “look” or “see”). English gives the result as sight received; the Greek also holds the movement of looking up, as if seeing is a capacity restored.
ALSO GROWS
blepō: To see, to look.
βλέπω
The plain verb shows the seed preserved in ἀναβλέπω (anablepō, “look up” or “regain sight”): the request is for seeing itself to return.
emblepō: To look at, to gaze upon.
ἐμβλέπω
The same βλέπω (blepō, “look” or “see”) stem appears in a verb for directed attention, showing how seeing can also mean attending to what is before you.
THE PATTERN
A direct question lets a person name the specific restoration they seek.
In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.THE THREAD
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.The request in Luke 18:41 uses ἀναβλέψω (anablepsō, “look up” or “regain sight”); Jesus answers with ἀνάβλεψον (anablepson, “look up” or “regain sight”), built on the same βλέπω (blepō, “look” or “see”) stem. The word moves from the man’s request into the answer: the capacity he asks for is restored.
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