What Does Luke 21:1 Mean in the King James?
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
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 same word for “casting” describes the widow’s gift next, so the action stays the same while its measure changes.
THE MEANING
The verse places visible giving under a seeing gaze: rich people cast their gifts into the treasury, and Jesus sees them. It names the donors and the destination, but leaves the worth of each gift unmeasured.
THE ROOT
βάλλοντας
ballontas
GROWS FROM
βάλλω
ballō
to throw, cast, or put
English “casting” can sound like a detail of movement, but the same verb returns when Jesus describes the widow’s offering. The verb remains the same even as the visible scale of the gifts changes.
ALSO GROWS
emballō: to throw or put into
ἐμβάλλω
This compound makes the inward direction explicit, like the gifts being cast into the treasury.
ekballō: to cast or throw out
ἐκβάλλω
The same root can describe movement out as well as in; the surrounding words show where the gifts go.
γαζοφυλάκιον
gazophylakion
GROWS FROM
φυλάσσω
phylassō
to guard or keep watch
The Greek word for “treasury” carries the sense of guarded treasure. Its guard-family root brings keeping and watching into the image of a place where the gifts are stored.
ALSO GROWS
phylakē: a guard post or prison
φυλακή
This branch names a place of guarding, echoing the treasury as a guarded store.
phylax: a guard or guardian
φύλαξ
This branch names the one who keeps watch over what is held.
THE PATTERN
The visible act does not disclose the whole measure; what lies beneath it is also seen.
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.THE THREAD
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:The same verb for casting returns when Jesus speaks of the widow. The verb stays the same while the visible scale changes, and Jesus calls her gift greater than all.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us