What Does Luke 6:42 Mean in the King James?
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
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 same Greek verb names removing both the mote and the beam; what changes is whether the one removing it can see clearly.
THE MEANING
You can reach to remove a small obstruction from another’s sight while a larger one keeps your own perception from registering. When your own obstruction is removed first, you see distinctly enough to help your brother.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that noticing another person’s flaw proves your own vision is clear; an unexamined obstruction can distort the correction you offer.
THE ROOT
ἐκβάλλω
ekballō
GROWS FROM
βάλλω
ballō
To throw or cast.
“pull out / cast out” in this verse is ekballō. Luke uses ἐκβάλλω for both the mote and the beam: English varies the phrase, while Greek repeats one act of casting out. What changes is not the remedy but whether the one doing it can see clearly.
ALSO GROWS
ekballō: Cast out; drive out.
ἐκβάλλω
This is the exact verb used for removing both the mote and the beam in Luke 6:42, though the KJV renders it “pull out” in one place and “cast out” in another.
apoballō: Throw away; cast off.
ἀποβάλλω
The same βάλλω seed carries the sense of throwing something away, echoing the removal of what obstructs sight.
διαβλέψεις
diablepseis
GROWS FROM
βλέπω
blepō
To see, look, or perceive.
“see clearly” in this verse is diablepseis. After the beam is cast out, the promise is διαβλέψεις, from βλέπω: seeing becomes clear. The verse places that clarity after the clearing, so perception is uncovered rather than supplied.
ALSO GROWS
blepō: See; look.
βλέπω
This is the basic act of seeing carried within the word for seeing clearly.
diablepō: See clearly; see distinctly.
διαβλέπω
This is the form used here for the sight that follows removal of the beam.
emblepō: Look at; gaze on.
ἐμβλέπω
This related form shows βλέπω in focused looking, another shape of perception.
THE PATTERN
Seeing your own hidden faults makes correction of another more clear-sighted.
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.THE THREAD
After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.Mark uses the same Greek verb, διαβλέπω, that Luke uses for seeing clearly after the beam is removed. In both verses, clear sight names perception restored after what obscures it is dealt with.
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