What Does Luke 7:42 Mean in the King James?
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
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 word behind “forgave” carries the sense of favor freely given: when repayment is impossible, love grows from what has already been released.
THE MEANING
Your inability to repay does not prevent release; the debt is forgiven before either debtor can give anything back. The question turns your attention to the love that rises from receiving what you could never settle.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that you must first repay enough to deserve release is undone here: both debtors receive forgiveness while they still have nothing to pay.
THE ROOT
ἐχαρίσατο
echarisato
GROWS FROM
χάρις
charis
Favor; a freely given gift.
“frankly forgave” in this verse is echarisato. The verb ἐχαρίσατο (echarisato), “favored freely” or “forgave,” grows from χάρις (charis), favor. Forgiveness is framed as a gift that releases the debt, not a reward waiting for repayment.
ALSO GROWS
charizomai: To grant freely, favor, or forgive.
χαρίζομαι
This is the verb behind “forgave”; it makes the release an act of favor.
charisma: A gift freely given.
χάρισμα
This related word keeps the same root’s sense of what is received as a gift, rather than earned by payment.
ἀποδοῦναι
apodounai
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι
didōmi
To give.
The phrase “to pay” literally carries the idea of giving back. The verse places that failed return beside freely given favor: there is nothing coming back from the debtors, yet the debt is released.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give.
δίδωμι
This is the underlying verb in the idea of paying back: a giving in return.
apodidōmi: To give back, repay, or render.
ἀποδίδωμι
This related compound names the return that neither debtor can make.
THE PATTERN
A response of love begins in a gift received before repayment is possible.
A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.We love him, because he first loved us.THE THREAD
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.The same Greek verb, ἐχαρίσατο (echarisato), “favored freely” or “forgave,” appears in both passages. Matthew makes the debt explicit: favor releases what the debtor cannot repay.
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