What Does Luke 20:43 Mean in the King James?

Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Luke 20:43 · KJV

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 verse’s “make” means “place”: its hidden action is the reordering of power until resistance lies beneath the ruler’s feet.

THE MEANING

The verse meets you in the interval before what opposes you has shifted position. It holds the present tension together with an appointed end: resistance does not occupy the highest place forever. The image is severe, enemies are made a footrest beneath the ruler.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It dissolves the belief that opposition holds the final position: the verse places the interval “till” inside a promise that power will change hands.

THE ROOT

θῶ

thō

GROWS FROM

τίθημι

tithēmi

to put, set, or place

The verb translated “make” carries the sense of placing: the enemies are assigned a position beneath the ruler’s feet. That makes the image one of subjection and changed order, not simply disappearance.

ALSO GROWS

apotithēmi: to lay aside

ἀποτίθημι

This branch shows how the same root can describe putting something out of its former place.

epitithēmi: to lay upon

ἐπιτίθημι

This branch makes the placement concrete: something is set onto another, as the footstool is set beneath the feet.

THE PATTERN

Opposition reaches its appointed limit when authority places it beneath the feet of the one who rules.

A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 110:1 · KJVThe same image joins the seat of authority to the promised placing of enemies beneath the feet.

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

Psalm 8:6 · KJVThe verse expresses rule as a changed position: all things are placed under the feet.

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Hebrews 10:13 · KJVThe same footstool image holds the present interval together with the expectation of subjection.

THE THREAD

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

1 Corinthians 15:25 · KJV

“Put” here and “make” in Luke come from the same Greek root, ⁨τίθημι⁩ (tithēmi), meaning to put or place. The shared root makes the connection precise: the reign described here takes shape as enemies are placed beneath the feet.

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