What Does Mark 13:34 Mean in the King James?
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
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
The master’s absence does not empty the house; it distributes his authority into work and wakefulness.
THE MEANING
You live in the interval of the master’s absence: authority is entrusted to the servants, each has work, and the doorkeeper is charged to stay awake. The trust given to each keeps the household active and watchful.
THE ROOT
γρηγορέω
grēgoreō
GROWS FROM
ἐγείρω
egeirō
to wake, awaken, or raise
The Greek verb for “watch” belongs to the wake-and-raise family: watchfulness is being awake. The charge describes a household kept alert during its master’s absence, not merely a guard assigned to a post.
ALSO GROWS
egrēgora: I have awakened; I am awake
ἐγρήγορα
This perfect form of the root names the awake state from which the command to watch grows.
egersis: awakening, rising
ἔγερσις
The same wake-and-raise family can name a rising, showing that watchfulness is active alertness rather than passive waiting.
THE PATTERN
A household entrusted during its master’s absence remains active through assigned service and readiness.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.THE THREAD
And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.The next verse repeats γρηγορέω (grēgoreō), “stay awake; watch.” The charge first pictured at the doorway is then spoken to everyone, revealing that alertness belongs to the whole household.
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