What Does Luke 22:25 Mean in the King James?
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
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 rulers who exercise power over people bear the title “benefactors”, the name of doing good sits beside the fact of ruling over them.
THE MEANING
You can see power holding people beneath it while wearing the name of doing them good. The title “benefactors” does not erase the rule described in the same breath. The verse speaks wherever domination presents itself as generosity.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A benevolent title proves that power is serving the people.
THE ROOT
εὐεργέται
euergétai
GROWS FROM
εὐεργετ- (from εὖ + ἔργον)
Good-doers; people understood as conferring benefit.
“benefactors” in this verse is euergétai. The word names these rulers as people who do good, while the same sentence says they exercise lordship over others. The verse holds the honored title beside the action, showing how power can wear the language of benefit.
ALSO GROWS
eu ergetéō: To do good or confer a benefit.
εὐεργετέω
It shares the “doing good” word family and makes clear what the public title claims of the rulers.
érgon: Work, deed, or action.
ἔργον
This is the “deed” within the compound: the name points to good deeds, while the verse also names the rulers’ exercise of power.
κυριεύουσιν
kyrieúousin
GROWS FROM
κυρι- (from κύριος)
To act as lord or master over someone.
“exercise lordship” in this verse is kyrieúousin. The Greek verb comes from κύριος, “lord” or “master,” and makes the rulers’ relation to the people explicit: they rule over them. Beside “benefactors,” it reveals the distance that can open between a ruler’s praised name and the power the ruler exercises.
ALSO GROWS
kýrios: Lord or master.
κύριος
This is the source word behind the verb; the rulers are described as taking the position of lord over others.
katakyrieúō: To exercise dominion over or subdue.
κατακυριεύω
This compounded form shares the same lordship family and appears in 1 Peter 5:3, where leaders are warned against ruling over those entrusted to them.
THE PATTERN
Authority’s claim to do good is measured against whether it serves people or rules them by force.
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.THE THREAD
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.The Greek word translated “lords” belongs to the same κύριος (kýrios), “lord,” word family as Luke’s “exercise lordship.” That shared root brings the contrast into focus: leadership can rule over people, or it can be seen in the example it gives.
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