What Does Luke 23:43 Mean in the King James?

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:43 · 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 promise centers on “with”: the destination is defined by who is there, not only where it is.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks into a moment that feels final: Jesus names companionship today, before he names a place. Paradise is described through relationship, being with him, so presence and destination belong together.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that a life must be repaired before it can be received: this promise reaches someone with no time left to rebuild the past.

THE ROOT

μετ

met’ emoû

GROWS FROM

μετά

With, among, in company with (⁨μετά⁩, metá).

“with me” in this verse is met’ emoû. The Greek phrase makes shared presence the center of the promise. The man is promised more than arrival somewhere: he is promised company with Jesus.

ALSO GROWS

metéchō: Share in, partake

μετέχω

This related word extends being with someone toward participation, making the promise one of shared presence.

metádosis: Sharing, impartation

μετάδοσις

This related word describes something shared from one to another, echoing the relational shape of the promise.

σήμερον

sēmeron

GROWS FROM

ἡμερ-

Day, daylight (⁨ἡμέρα⁩, hēmera).

“to day” in this verse is sēmeron. The Greek word for “today” belongs to the day-family: the promise is pinned to this day, not left as a distant possibility. Its timing makes the promised companionship immediate.

ALSO GROWS

hēmera: Day, daylight

ἡμέρα

This day-word shares the family beneath “today,” keeping the promise within a definite span of time.

ephḗmeros: Lasting for a day, short-lived

ἐφήμερος

This related word carries the day-family into the span of a lived day, underscoring the immediacy of the promise.

אָמֵן

ʾāmēn

GROWS FROM

אמן

Firm, established, trustworthy (⁨אמן⁩, ʾāman).

The affirmation carries the sense of something firm and reliable. “Verily” gives settled assurance to what follows.

ALSO GROWS

ʾāman: Be firm, support, be trustworthy

אָמַן

This verb grounds the affirmation in firmness and reliability.

ʾĕmûnāh: Steadfastness, trust

אֱמוּנָה

This branch shows the root’s movement from what is firm toward trust that can lean on it.

neʾĕmān: Reliable, steady

נֶאֱמָן

This related word describes what can be relied on, echoing the certainty of the promise.

THE PATTERN

At the edge of danger or death, scripture anchors hope in being with God, while place remains secondary to presence.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 · KJVEven in the valley of death, the assurance rests on the words “thou art with me.”

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:3 · KJVThe prepared place matters because it brings the promise into being where Jesus is.

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Philippians 1:23 · KJVThe hope expressed at the threshold of departure is being with Christ.

THE THREAD

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 17:24 · KJV

John 17:24 uses the same Greek phrase ⁨μετ⁩’ ⁨ἐμοῦ⁩ (met’ emoû, “with me”) and makes shared presence what Jesus wills for those given to him. It opens Luke’s promise further: paradise is defined by being where he is.

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