What Does Luke 23:12 Mean in the King James?
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
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 Greek describes Pilate and Herod as becoming friends, a change of state that arrives in a single day without any reconciliation being narrated.
THE MEANING
Enmity between people can give way to friendship within a single day. The verse leaves the cause and process unstated, so the suddenness of the change remains in view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that hostility is a fixed identity: the same people who are at enmity now stand as friends.
THE ROOT
ἐγένοντο
egenonto
GROWS FROM
γίνομαι
ginomai
To become, come to be.
“were made” in this verse is egenonto. The verb puts the change itself in view: they become friends. No mediator or repair process is named, so the new state arrives without an explanation of how it comes about.
ALSO GROWS
genesis: Birth, origin, coming into being.
γένεσις
This branch echoes the appearance of a new state: their friendship comes into being that day.
genos: Kind, lineage, family.
γένος
The word family carries the idea of what comes to be or belongs to a common origin; here, the relationship takes on a new form.
φίλοι
philoi
GROWS FROM
φιλ-
phil-
Affection, fondness, being dear.
“friends” in this verse is philoi. The word carries the language of personal affection, so the change is expressed as a bond, not merely as the end of conflict. That affection-language follows the verse’s mention of enmity on the very same day.
ALSO GROWS
phileō: To love, show affection.
φιλέω
The same word family reaches beyond alliance to affection, giving “friends” a relational depth.
philia: Friendship, affection.
φιλία
This branch names the bond itself, showing how fully the verse’s relationship changes.
ἔχθρᾳ
echthra
GROWS FROM
ἐχθρ-
echthr-
Hostility, being an enemy.
“enmity” in this verse is echthra. The word family names both the condition of hostility and the person regarded as an enemy. The verse places that adversarial relation beside friendship, then shows the relation changing within a day.
ALSO GROWS
echthra: Enmity, hostility.
ἔχθρα
This is the noun for the hostile relation that stands between them before their change.
echthros: Enemy, hostile.
ἔχθρος
The same family can name a person as an enemy, tying the feeling of hostility to the relationship itself.
THE PATTERN
A shared opponent can align people or powers who otherwise stand apart.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,THE THREAD
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.Luke’s word for “enmity” and Romans’ word for “enemies” belong to the same Greek word family. Luke shows a hostile relationship turning into friendship; Romans carries the same root into reconciliation, opening the possibility that being an enemy is a relationship that can change.
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