What Does Luke 4:6 Mean in the King James?
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
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 repeated “give” sounds like ownership until “delivered unto me” reveals the Slanderer as a recipient before he is a giver.
THE MEANING
The Slanderer presents all this authority and weight as something he can hand over at will. Yet his own words say it has already been handed over to him, so the offer reveals a prior transfer before any promise of further giving. The one who distributes power is not necessarily its source.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that whoever can offer power must be its original source: “is delivered unto me” puts a transfer before the Slanderer’s offer.
THE ROOT
παραδέδοται
paradédotai
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
give; with παρά (para), hand over or deliver
“delivered” in this verse is paradédotai. The clause says the authority “has been handed over to me,” then the speaker pivots to “I will give” and “I give”, all forms of δίδωμι (didōmi, “give”). The transfer is already behind the offer: the Slanderer speaks as a distributor of what he first received.
ALSO GROWS
dōsō: I will give
δώσω
This is the speaker’s first promise, from the same give-root as what was handed over to him.
didōmi: I give
δίδωμι
The closing claim repeats the same verb, making the repeated giving audible beneath the English.
paradidōmi: hand over, deliver
παραδίδωμι
The compound names the prior transfer that makes the speaker’s offer possible.
ἐξουσίαν
exousian
GROWS FROM
ἔξεστι
exesti
it is permitted; authority as a right or jurisdiction to act
“power” in this verse is exousian. The offer is not merely force: ἐξουσία (exousia, “authority”) names a right to act or rule. Its permission-shaped family fits the verse’s language of authority being transferred and then exercised.
ALSO GROWS
exesti: it is permitted or possible
ἔξεστι
This related form brings out the permission beneath authority: what one is allowed or entitled to do.
exousiazō: exercise authority or have power over
ἐξουσιάζω
This verb shows the active reach of the authority being offered.
δόξαν
doxan
GROWS FROM
δοκέω
dokeō
think, seem, regard; the family carries esteem and reputation
“glory” in this verse is doxan. δόξα (doxa, “weight, standing, honor”) carries more than decorative splendor: it includes the esteem attached to what is regarded as important. The Slanderer offers both control and the perceived weight of the realms.
ALSO GROWS
doxa: weight, standing, honor, splendor
δόξα
This is the word in the verse, naming the realms’ public weight as well as their visible splendor.
doxazō: honor, glorify, give renown
δοξάζω
This related verb shows how doxa becomes recognition or honor given to someone.
dokeō: think, seem, regard
δοκέω
The family’s link to how something is regarded illuminates the reputation and esteem carried by doxa.
THE PATTERN
Authority and abundance appear as what is received and entrusted, so the one distributing them is not automatically their source.
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?THE THREAD
And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.Luke uses the same verb family here and in Judas’s plan to “betray”: παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi, “hand over”). That echo makes the transfer itself visible as something that can serve a scheme of control or betrayal; holding what has been handed over does not tell you where it began or whether the handover is rightful.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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