What Does Luke 9:20 Mean in the King James?
He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
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
“Christ” is not Jesus’ surname but Peter’s answer in a title: God’s Anointed One.
THE MEANING
Jesus’ question still asks who he is in the reader’s sight. Peter answers with a title that joins Jesus’ identity to God’s anointing. The name carries both its source and its commission.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the idea that “Christ” is simply a second name attached to Jesus; Peter uses it as a title naming him as God’s Anointed One.
THE ROOT
Χριστός
Christos
GROWS FROM
χρίω
chriō
To anoint, to apply oil.
“Christ” in this verse is Christos. Χριστός grows from χρίω, “to anoint,” so Peter names Jesus by the act that marks him as God’s Anointed One. The title keeps its connection to anointing visible: it carries a commission, not just a name.
ALSO GROWS
Christos: Anointed One
Χριστός
This is the title Peter gives Jesus, joined to the action of anointing.
chrisma: Anointing
χρῖσμα
This noun from the same word family keeps the title connected to the act itself.
echrisen: He anointed
ἔχρισεν
This verb form appears in Luke 4:18, where Jesus speaks of being anointed for the work that follows.
THE PATTERN
God’s anointing marks a person for a work that becomes visible in the world.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.THE THREAD
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,The same Greek word family behind Χριστός appears in “hath anointed me.” Peter’s answer names Jesus as the Anointed One; this verse shows the work carried in that title, good news, deliverance, restored sight, and liberty.
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