What Does Luke 6:34 Mean in the King James?
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
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
When the return is already counted, the verse asks what favor is left in the loan.
THE MEANING
You meet the point where lending becomes a circle closed by the expected return. The word translated “thank” is χάρις (charis, favor or thanks), so the verse asks what favor is present when the exchange is designed to come back equal. Its “also” brings this return-driven pattern into view as familiar, even among those called sinners.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie is that a transaction becomes generous merely because you call it a loan; when equal repayment is the aim, reciprocity still sets its terms.
THE ROOT
χάρις
charis
GROWS FROM
χαρι-/χαρισ- (charis stem)
Favor or graciousness; in this verse, thanks or credit.
“thank” in this verse is charis. The question does not reduce to whether you lend; it asks what χάρις (charis, favor or thanks) is present when the return has already been counted. The word brings the quality of favor into view alongside the exchange.
ALSO GROWS
charizomai: To grant freely, show favor, or forgive.
χαρίζομαι
This branch shows favor as something given, rather than something secured by an equal return.
eucharisteō: To give thanks.
εὐχαριστέω
This related word preserves the link between χάρις (charis, favor) and thanks.
ἁμαρτωλοί
hamartōloi
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτ-
hamart-
To miss or err; the word family names those who miss.
The root keeps “sinners” from becoming a faceless label: ἁμαρτωλοί (hamartōloi, those who miss) is set beside a concrete pattern, lending with equal return in view. The verse presents that pattern as ordinary even among those marked by missing.
ALSO GROWS
hamartia: Missing, missing the mark.
ἁμαρτία
This noun connects the label in the verse to the broader idea of missing.
hamartanō: To miss or err.
ἁμαρτάνω
This verb exposes the action beneath the label: a miss or error, rather than a separate kind of person.
THE PATTERN
Generosity loosens its hold on equivalence by giving toward need without making an equal return its condition.
But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.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.The word for “lend” continues from this verse into the next, where the expectation of return is made explicit. Luke 6:35 opens the same action beyond repayment and places it beside kindness that reaches even the unthankful and the evil.
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