What Does Luke 6:33 Mean in the King James?
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
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 verse calls goodness that returns to its source reciprocity, then asks what favor remains when repayment is built in.
THE MEANING
You can return good within the same circle of exchange; the verse names that as something even those called sinners do. Its question turns on what credit belongs to kindness when it is returned in kind. The distinction comes into view when good reaches beyond the expectation of return.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that returning kindness only to people who first do good to you is, by itself, evidence of unusual generosity.
THE ROOT
ἀγαθοποιέω
agathopoieō
GROWS FROM
ἀγαθός (agathos, good) + ποιέω (poieō, do or make)
To do what is good or beneficial.
The same verb describes both sides of the exchange: people do good to those who do good to them. The repeated word makes the contrast turn on the direction of the good, not on whether the act itself is good.
ALSO GROWS
agathos: Good or beneficial.
ἀγαθός
It names the quality of the act being returned.
poieō: To do or make.
ποιέω
It makes the good an enacted deed, not merely a favorable intention.
χάρις
charis
GROWS FROM
χάρις
charis
Favor, gratitude, or credit; here, what credit or thanks is due.
“thank / credit” in this verse is charis. The question asks what χάρις (charis, favor or thanks) there is in returning good within a reciprocal exchange. The word holds both the response of gratitude and the favor being shown, bringing the verse’s question of credit into the same word family as freely granted gifts.
ALSO GROWS
charizomai: To grant freely or show favor.
χαρίζομαι
It makes the link between favor and freely given action visible.
charisma: A gift or favor.
χάρισμα
It shows favor taking the form of something given.
ἁμαρτωλοί
hamartōloi
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτάνω
hamartanō
The word family of missing or erring; here, people described as missing the mark.
“sinners” in this verse is hamartōloi. Even those described by their missing still do good when it is returned to them. The verse places ordinary reciprocity inside that category, so the contrast is about the reach of the good, not a simple division between people who do good and people who do not.
ALSO GROWS
hamartanō: To miss or err.
ἁμαρτάνω
It is the verb at the base of the word family used for missing the mark.
hamartia: Missing or error.
ἁμαρτία
It shows the underlying sense carried by the label translated “sinners.”
THE PATTERN
Kindness reaches beyond reciprocity when it is extended to someone who cannot be counted on to return it.
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.THE THREAD
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.Luke 6:35 repeats ἀγαθοποιέω (agathopoieō, “do good”) and extends it to enemies, with no expectation of return. Beside that verse, the question here becomes precise: what changes when good is no longer confined to a circle of repayment?
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us