What Does Luke 9:27 Mean in the King James?
But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom 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
God’s kingdom is God’s governance made visible to living witnesses before they taste death.
THE MEANING
God’s governance can become perceptible within a living life. The verse places this seeing before death for some who stand here, while leaving the form of the kingdom’s appearance open. Its promise makes the kingdom an encounter within time.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that God’s rule is only visible after death.
THE ROOT
βασιλείαν
basileian
GROWS FROM
βασιλευ-
Kingly rule, reign, royal authority.
βασιλεία (basileia) can name kingship or reign as well as the realm under it. The word family ties the kingdom to active governance, something witnesses can perceive at work.
ALSO GROWS
basileus: King.
βασιλεύς
This names the one who exercises the rule at the heart of the kingdom.
basileuō: To reign, rule as king.
βασιλεύω
The verb makes the kingdom’s governing action visible.
basilikos: Royal, belonging to a king.
βασιλικός
This branch shows how the same word family marks what carries or reflects royal authority.
γεύσωνται
geusōntai
GROWS FROM
γευ-
Taste; partake of; experience.
Greek uses γεύομαι (geuomai) for tasting and for undergoing an experience. Hebrews 2:9 uses this same verb in the phrase “taste death,” giving Luke’s image the immediacy of something encountered.
ALSO GROWS
geuomai: To taste, partake of, experience.
γεύομαι
The verb in the verse carries the sensory act of tasting into the experience of death.
geuma: Food, a meal.
γεῦμα
This branch keeps the root’s concrete sense of taking something in.
geusis: Taste, tasting.
γεῦσις
The noun preserves the direct sensory image behind the verse’s expression.
ἴδωσιν
idōsin
GROWS FROM
ὁρα-
See, perceive.
“see” in this verse is idōsin. The form ἴδωσιν (idōsin) is an irregular form of ὁράω (horaō), a verb that can mean seeing or perceiving. The verse promises a perception of God’s governance, while leaving exactly how it becomes visible unstated.
ALSO GROWS
horaō: To see, perceive.
ὁράω
This is the verb behind the verse’s promise of seeing the kingdom.
horama: A vision, what is seen.
ὅραμα
This related word brings the emphasis onto what perception discloses.
horatos: Visible, able to be seen.
ὁρατός
This branch highlights the visibility implied by the witnesses’ seeing.
THE PATTERN
God’s rule becomes visible through deeds and encounters that living people can witness.
To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.THE THREAD
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.Luke and Hebrews use forms of γεύομαι (geuomai, “to taste, experience”) in the phrase “taste death.” Hebrews makes the idiom especially clear: death is something undergone, so Luke’s promise places the seeing of the kingdom before that threshold for some witnesses.
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