What Does Luke 7:48 Mean in the King James?
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
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 translated “forgiven” means released, so the verse speaks of the missing as no longer being held.
THE MEANING
The reader’s failures are named as something that can be released, not as a permanent identity. The sentence declares that release as an accomplished act whose result still stands. The person hearing it now meets release at the point of the missing.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a failure must remain attached to the person forever.
THE ROOT
ἀφέωνταί
apheōntai
GROWS FROM
ἵημι (in ἀφίημι)
ἵημι means “send” or “let go”; with ἀπό, it forms ἀφίημι, “send away” or “release.”
The Greek verb here presents her sins as released, with that release already accomplished and still in effect. English “forgiven” carries this movement of letting go beneath its familiar sense.
ALSO GROWS
aphiēmi: to let go, leave, or release
ἀφίημι
This is the verb behind the declaration spoken to her.
áphesis: release, remission
ἄφεσις
This related noun names the same release in Ephesians 1:7.
ἁμαρτίαι
hamartíai
GROWS FROM
ἁμαρτ-
hamart-
The Greek word family carries the sense of missing, failing, or erring.
The word translated “sins” belongs to a family that includes the idea of missing or failing. Beside “released,” it shows the verse joining the missing itself to the act of letting go.
ALSO GROWS
hamartánō: to miss, fail, or err
ἁμαρτάνω
The verb makes visible the action beneath the noun used for her sins.
hamártēma: a failure or offense
ἁμάρτημα
This related noun keeps the focus on what has gone wrong, now named as released.
THE PATTERN
What stands as a person’s transgression is described as removed, blotted out, or released.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;THE THREAD
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Luke’s “forgiven” and Ephesians’ “forgiveness” belong to the same Greek word family: release. Ephesians pairs that release with the same word for “sins,” making explicit the connection Luke’s sentence holds together.
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