What Does Luke 2:10 Mean in the King James?
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
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 Greek word for bringing good news shares its message-bearing family with “messenger”: the announcement is the messenger’s work made audible.
THE MEANING
This announcement meets fear with good news: a great joy is here for all the people. Fear is present, but it does not tell the whole truth about what is happening.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Fear is the whole truth about this moment. The verse places great joy inside the very moment fear is spoken to.
THE ROOT
εὐαγγελίζομαι
euangelizomai
GROWS FROM
εὐαγγελ-
euangel-
To announce good news; the word combines εὖ (eu, good) with the messenger and message family.
“bring you good tidings” in this verse is euangelizomai. English separates “angel” from “bring good tidings,” but ἄγγελος (angelos, messenger) and εὐαγγελίζομαι (euangelizomai, announce good news) share the ἀγγελ- message-bearing family. The messenger’s identity and the act he performs meet in the announcement itself.
ALSO GROWS
euangelion: Good news; a message of good tidings.
εὐαγγέλιον
This noun names the message carried by the messenger’s announcement.
angelos: Messenger.
ἄγγελος
The word for the messenger echoes inside the word family for announcing good news.
χαράν
charan
GROWS FROM
χαρ-
char-
Rejoicing, gladness; the word family is linked to χαίρω (chairō), to rejoice.
The Greek word family holds joy as both a state and an act of rejoicing. The announcement is more than information: its content is great joy, shared with the people.
ALSO GROWS
chairō: To rejoice, be glad.
χαίρω
The verb gives voice to the rejoicing contained in the noun “joy.”
chara: Joy, gladness.
χαρά
This is the same noun in its uninflected form; the verse names joy as the substance of the announcement.
THE PATTERN
News of deliverance becomes joy shared by a people.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.And there was great joy in that city.THE THREAD
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!The Septuagint uses the same Greek verb for “bringest good tidings” that appears in Luke. Isaiah also joins the announcement to “be not afraid” and “Behold,” so the good news meets fear by turning attention toward what is being revealed.
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