What Does Mark 10:42 Mean in the King James?

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
Mark 10:42 · KJV
The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

The verse exposes domination as power bearing down on others, naming that downward posture twice in two different words for rule and authority.

This verse lets you recognize domination in the way power is exercised: people counted as rulers press their position down onto others. It distinguishes having authority from using authority to make others feel beneath you.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that being counted a ruler makes domination a natural right; rank alone does not make the way power is used good.

κατακυριεύουσιν

katakyrieuousin

GROWS FROM

κυρι-

kyri-

Lord or master; the compound adds ⁨κατα-⁩ (kata-), bearing the rule over others.

“exercise lordship” in this verse is katakyrieuousin. The verb carries the sense of lording it over someone, with rule pressing down from above. Its shared stem with the word for “lord” reveals how a title of authority becomes a posture of dominance here.

ALSO GROWS

kyrios: lord, master

κύριος

The title behind the verb shows that the verse concerns how lordship is exercised, not merely who holds a title.

kyrieuō: rule over, be lord over

κυριεύω

This related verb shares the core sense of holding rule over someone.

κατεξουσιάζουσιν

katexousiazousin

GROWS FROM

ἐξουσία

exousia

Authority, right, or power; the compound adds ⁨κατα-⁩ (kata-), directing that power over others.

“exercise authority” in this verse is katexousiazousin. The verse uses a second compound with the same ⁨κατα-⁩ prefix, so the downward pressure appears twice: as lordship and as authority. Authority can name a right or power; here, the verb shows that power being used to press others beneath it.

ALSO GROWS

exousia: authority, right, power

ἐξουσία

The underlying noun can name authority itself, while this verse describes the forceful way that authority is exercised.

exousiazō: exercise authority, wield power

ἐξουσιάζω

This related verb makes the shift from possessing authority to actively wielding it visible.

Power becomes domination when those above use it to press others beneath them.

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
Ezekiel 34:4 · KJVThis names rule by force and cruelty as the opposite of strengthening and tending those under its care.
But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
Mark 10:43 · KJVThe next verse turns the downward posture into service as the measure of greatness.
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:3 · KJVIt names the same danger of lording over others and sets example in its place.
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:3 · KJV

The phrase “being lords over” uses the same Greek verb family, ⁨κατακυριεύω⁩, as “exercise lordship” here. The shared root lets the contrast come into focus: authority can bear down on people, or it can be expressed as an example they can see.

This reading is from Selah Verse.

You can read any verse this way in the app, keep it as a card, and send it on.

Get Selah Verse

A Bible app where you send verses from your keyboard and in Messages, and every verse has a Deep Dive.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us

Mark 10:42 KJV Meaning