What Does Luke 23:20 Mean in the King James?
Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
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
Luke places Pilate’s wish to release Jesus beside speech repeated to the people, showing that willingness and release are not the same act.
THE MEANING
Pilate wants Jesus released, but the verse shows him speaking again while Jesus remains held. It speaks now wherever someone with power names release as a desire while the person held still awaits a decision. Repeated speech has not yet become release.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Wanting to let someone go does not, by itself, make them free.
THE ROOT
ἀπολῦσαι
apolysai
GROWS FROM
λύω
luō
To loosen or untie; by extension, to release.
The infinitive ἀπολῦσαι (apolysai, “to release”) comes from ἀπολύω (apolyō, “to release or dismiss”), joining ἀπό (apo, “away”) with λύω (luō, “to loosen”). The image is of loosening someone away; here, Pilate’s wish is still speech, not completed release.
ALSO GROWS
luō: To loosen, untie, or release.
λύω
The base verb reveals the image beneath “release”: loosening what is held, as in John 11:44’s command to “Loose him.”
apolysis: Release or dismissal.
ἀπόλυσις
This related noun names the act Pilate wants to carry out: letting someone go.
THE PATTERN
Freedom takes shape when what is held is actually loosened, not merely wished free.
Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.THE THREAD
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.John uses λύω (luō, “to loosen”) in the command “Loose him.” Release becomes a bodily unbinding there, giving physical shape to the loosening carried by Luke’s ἀπολύω (apolyō, “to release”).
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