What Does Luke 6:24 Mean in the King James?
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
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 woe rests on a stark image: the rich already have their consolation in hand, as though the payment has been received in full.
THE MEANING
The verse names the rich in the present and says their consolation is already received. Its force is severe: wealth can provide comfort that is fully possessed now. The word for consolation also belongs to a family that can mean comfort or appeal, giving the received comfort an unsettling edge.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that visible abundance proves lasting security: the rich may already have received the consolation their wealth provides.
THE ROOT
ἀπέχετε
apéchete
GROWS FROM
ἔχω (echō), in the compound ἀπέχω (apechō)
ἔχω means to have or hold; ἀπέχω can mean to have in full, receive in full, or hold at a distance.
“received” in this verse is apéchete. The verb can carry the force of a completed receipt, stronger than simply coming into possession. The woe pictures consolation as already in hand.
ALSO GROWS
echō: to have, hold
ἔχω
This is the verb at the core of ἀπέχετε: the consolation is something the addressed already have.
apochē: abstinence, refraining
ἀποχή
This related form carries the sense of holding back or keeping away, another side of the ἀπέχω word family.
παράκλησιν
paraklēsin
GROWS FROM
παρακαλέω
parakaleō
The word family carries meanings of comfort and urging or appeal.
The noun translated “consolation” shares its family with a verb that can mean both comfort and urge or appeal. Comfort here belongs to a word family that can soothe or summon.
ALSO GROWS
parakaleō: to comfort, urge, or appeal
παρακαλέω
The related verb shows that consolation belongs to a family that can comfort or press an appeal.
paraklētos: advocate, helper
παράκλητος
This related term extends the family toward one who gives support, linking consolation with help.
THE PATTERN
What is held as present wealth can become the whole reward already received.
He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.THE THREAD
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.Matthew uses the same Greek verb, ἀπέχω (apechō), rendered “They have their reward,” that Luke uses for “ye have received your consolation.” The shared wording makes both verses sound like a settled account: the reward or comfort is already in hand.
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