What Does Luke 2:13 Mean in the King James?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
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 heavenly “host” is an army whose shared force appears here as praise and speech.
THE MEANING
A messenger is suddenly joined by a multitude the verse calls a host, a word with military force. Here that force is gathered into praise of God and a shared voice.
THE ROOT
στρατιᾶς
stratias
GROWS FROM
στρατ-
strat-
Army; an organized military force.
The word translated “host” names an army, so the multitude is more than a large crowd: it is a gathered force. Its action here is praise and speech, joining military scale with a unified voice.
ALSO GROWS
stratos: Army.
στρατός
This related word makes the military sense within “host” plain.
strateuomai: To serve as a soldier or campaign.
στρατεύομαι
The word family carries the idea of an organized force acting together.
αἰνούντων
ainountōn
GROWS FROM
αἰν-
ain-
Praise or commend.
“praising” in this verse is ainountōn. The Greek form is from αἰνέω (aineō, to praise), the same verb used when the disciples praise God in Luke 19:37. The shared word lets the heavenly host’s praise echo in a multitude on earth.
ALSO GROWS
ainos: Praise or commendation.
αἶνος
The related noun names praise as the expressed response of the host.
epaineō: To praise or approve.
ἐπαινέω
This related verb keeps the root’s sense of voicing commendation.
ἄγγελος
angelos
GROWS FROM
ἀγγελ-
angel-
Message or report.
“angel” in this verse is angelos. The Greek word ἄγγελος (angelos, messenger) belongs to a family centered on announcing and carrying a message. The verse places the messenger beside a host whose praise also becomes speech.
ALSO GROWS
angellō: To announce or report.
ἀγγέλλω
It makes the messenger’s role as a bearer of news audible in the word family.
angelia: A message or report.
ἀγγελία
The related noun links the messenger with the message being carried.
THE PATTERN
When divine presence or action comes into view, praise gathers into a shared voice.
Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;THE THREAD
And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;Luke uses the same verb, αἰνέω (aineō, to praise), for the heavenly host’s praise and the disciples’ praise. The same word carries the shared voice from heaven into the multitude on earth.
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