What Does Mark 10:17 Mean in the King James?
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
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
He asks what he must do to receive life, yet names that life as an inheritance.
THE MEANING
Your question about life can carry that same pull: what must you accomplish to secure it? The verse holds two pictures together: he asks what to do, yet calls it the life of the age as an inheritance. The tension remains open here.
THE ROOT
κληρονομήσω
klēronomēsō
GROWS FROM
κληρονομ- (from κλῆρος, klēros, “lot or share,” and νέμω, nemō, “allot or distribute”)
To receive or possess a share as an heir.
“inherit” in this verse is klēronomēsō. He asks what he can do, but the verb he uses for the outcome describes receiving an allotted share. The wording holds action and inheritance together without resolving their tension.
ALSO GROWS
klēronomia: inheritance
κληρονομία
The noun names the share he hopes to receive.
klēronomos: heir
κληρονόμος
The heir is defined by receiving the share, which deepens the question of what can be done to obtain it.
αἰώνιον
aiōnion
GROWS FROM
αἰών
aiōn
An age, era, or span of time.
The adjective grows from αἰών (aiōn), “age,” so the phrase can be heard as “life of the age.” “Eternal” can suggest duration alone; the Greek also names the age to which this life belongs.
ALSO GROWS
aiōn: age or era
αἰών
This is the noun beneath the adjective translated “eternal.”
aiōnes: ages
αἰῶνες
The plural form keeps the phrase within the Greek language of ages and makes “life of the ages” audible.
ποιήσω
poiēsō
GROWS FROM
ποιέω
poieō
To do, make, or bring about.
“do” in this verse is poiēsō. The question uses a verb that can mean doing or making. Beside “inherit,” it sets an action sought beside a share received, sharpening the tension in the question.
ALSO GROWS
poiēma: something made; a work
ποίημα
This noun shows the making sense carried by the same word family.
poiētēs: maker or doer
ποιητής
This word names the one who acts, keeping the focus on the questioner’s desire to know what action is required.
THE PATTERN
God’s promised future is described as an inheritance, a share received, not simply as an achievement.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.THE THREAD
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Titus places heirs beside the hope of eternal life, bringing together the same ideas Mark’s question holds in tension. “Heirs” translates κληρονόμοι (klēronomoi), from the same word family as “inherit” in Mark.
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