What Does Luke 4:22 Mean in the King James?
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
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 listeners recognize favor in the words, then narrow the speaker to a familiar name.
THE MEANING
You can recognize favor in words and still reduce the speaker to the familiar story you already know. The verse holds both responses together: wonder at what comes from a mouth, then the narrowing question, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a familiar origin fully explains a person and limits what their words can carry.
THE ROOT
χάριτος
charitos
GROWS FROM
χαρι-
chari-
Favor; graciousness freely given.
The Greek phrase is “words of favor”: what proceeds from his mouth is heard as something given, not merely as pleasant speech. This word family also includes χαρίζομαι (charizomai, to grant freely or forgive) and χάρισμα (charisma, a gracious gift), connecting favor with what is freely extended to another.
ALSO GROWS
charizomai: Grant freely, show favor, or forgive.
χαρίζομαι
This branch shows favor as something extended to another, as the words here proceed from the speaker.
charisma: A gracious gift.
χάρισμα
It connects favor with a gift given, deepening the sense of these words as favor carried outward.
THE PATTERN
Favor can travel through speech as something received, given, and recognized.
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.THE THREAD
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.Both verses carry χάρις (charis, favor): Luke describes words of favor coming from a mouth, and Colossians brings that same favor into the reader’s speech. The shared root opens favor as something that can be recognized in another’s words and extended in one’s own.
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