What Does Luke 2:28 Mean in the King James?
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
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 verb translated “took him up” means “received”: the blessing begins in welcome, before it becomes speech.
THE MEANING
Receiving is already a form of blessing: a child is welcomed close, and praise rises toward God. The arms make welcome tangible; the mouth gives it voice. The verse speaks now wherever acceptance opens into praise.
THE ROOT
ἐδέξατο
edexato
GROWS FROM
δεχ- (dech-), in δέχομαι (dechomai)
To receive, accept, or welcome.
“took him up” in this verse is edexato. The English can make this sound like a simple lifting, but the Greek verb means “received” or “welcomed.” His arms make that welcome visible: receiving the child is the first movement in the verse, before he speaks blessing.
ALSO GROWS
apodechomai: Receive or welcome.
ἀποδέχομαι
This compound keeps the same receiving root, making the welcome in the verse part of a wider Greek word family.
dektos: Accepted or welcome.
δεκτός
This related form names what is received as welcome, illuminating the embrace as acceptance.
εὐλόγησεν
eulogēsen
GROWS FROM
λέγω (legō), within εὐλογέω (eulogeō)
λέγω (legō) means “say” or “speak”; εὐλογέω (eulogeō) combines εὖ (eu, “well”) with speaking, and means “bless” or “praise.”
“blessed” in this verse is eulogēsen. The same Greek verb can describe praising God and blessing a person. English often separates those acts, but the word family holds spoken praise and blessing together: welcome gives rise to words directed toward God.
ALSO GROWS
logos: Word, saying, or account.
λόγος
It belongs to the same Greek speaking word family, drawing attention to how the verse moves from an embrace into spoken words.
eulogia: Blessing or praise.
εὐλογία
This related noun carries the blessing and praise contained in the verb spoken here.
THE PATTERN
What is welcomed close becomes the occasion for blessing.
And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.THE THREAD
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.The same Greek receive-word links the welcome into arms here with receiving the kingdom as a child there. Luke uses one word for bodily welcome and receptive entry, making the embrace a visible form of that openness.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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