What Does Luke 3:11 Mean in the King James?
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
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 extra garment is already another person’s covering.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks through ordinary necessities: a garment covers, and food feeds. “Impart” means to share a portion, so what you have connects directly to what another person lacks. Turning takes shape in what moves between people.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that turning can remain private while someone nearby lacks clothing or food.
THE ROOT
μεταδότω
metadotō
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
To give or grant; in μεταδίδωμι, to share or give a portion.
The verb translated “impart” means to share a portion, with δίδωμι (didōmi, “give”) at its center. English “impart” can sound like passing along an idea, but here the sharing is concrete: one person’s extra becomes another person’s share.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give or grant.
δίδωμι
This is the base verb inside “impart”: the sharing begins with something given.
apodidōmi: To give back or repay.
ἀποδίδωμι
This related form shows the same giving family in a movement of goods back between people.
paradidōmi: To hand over or deliver.
παραδίδωμι
Like sharing a garment or food, this branch makes giving a concrete transfer from one person to another.
βρώματα
brōmata
GROWS FROM
βρω- / βρωσκ- (brō- / brōsk-)
The word family concerns eating and what is eaten.
“Meat” here means food in general, not specifically flesh. The Greek places nourishment beside clothing, making both what feeds and what covers part of the same pattern of sharing.
ALSO GROWS
brōskō: To eat.
βρώσκω
The food in the verse is what can be eaten and sustain someone.
brōsis: Eating or food.
βρῶσις
This related word keeps the focus on nourishment rather than a particular kind of meat.
THE PATTERN
What one person has in abundance becomes provision where another person lacks.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:THE THREAD
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.Luke 6:38 uses the same Greek give-family carried by the verb translated “impart” here: give, be given, and give to another. The movement from a garment or meal changing hands opens into a measure of giving that returns into the giver’s life.
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