What Does Luke 8:52 Mean in the King James?
And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
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
Jesus answers grief’s bodily blows with a name for the girl’s condition that leaves waking possible.
THE MEANING
When grief makes an ending feel absolute, Jesus’ words place that appearance beside the possibility of waking. He names the girl’s condition as sleep, holding open what the mourners cannot yet see.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that death has already settled what can happen next gives way to Jesus’ image of sleep, which leaves awakening possible.
THE ROOT
ἐκόπτοντο
ekoptonto
GROWS FROM
κόπτω
koptō
to strike, smite, or cut
The verb rendered “bewailed” is a form of κόπτω, whose basic sense is to strike and whose mourning use can describe beating the breast. Beneath the English word for lament, the verse carries grief as a bodily blow.
ALSO GROWS
koptomai: to beat oneself; to lament or mourn
κόπτομαι
This middle form preserves the striking sense as an expression of grief.
kopetos: lamentation, especially with beating of the breast
κοπετός
This related noun keeps the physical action inside the word for mourning.
καθεύδει
katheudei
GROWS FROM
καθεύδω
katheudō
to sleep or lie down
“sleepeth” in this verse is katheudei. The Greek form καθεύδει names her state in the present: she is sleeping. The image leaves waking within its meaning, so death is not given the last word here.
ALSO GROWS
katheudōn: sleeping; one who sleeps
καθεύδων
This participle makes sleep a present state, as Jesus names it for the girl.
katheudein: to sleep
καθεύδειν
This infinitive keeps the verb’s simple sense visible beneath the image of sleep and waking.
THE PATTERN
Scripture calls the dead asleep when awakening remains within the horizon of death.
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.THE THREAD
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.Mark preserves Jesus’ same words and the same Greek verb, καθεύδω, for the girl’s condition. The parallel places his name for her state beside the raising that follows, making the possibility of waking visible in Luke’s image of sleep.
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