What Does Matthew 11:1 Mean in the King James?
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
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 word translated “end” carries completion to its aim, and when Jesus completes his instruction, he is already moving into the disciples’ cities.
THE MEANING
The word given to the twelve does not stay where they receive it: Jesus completes their charge, then enters their cities to teach and proclaim. The verse shows instruction reaching people where they live.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The work is over once the instruction is given; here, its completion opens into further movement.
THE ROOT
ἐτέλεσεν
etelesen
GROWS FROM
τελέω
teleō
Bring to completion; accomplish; carry through to its intended end.
“made an end” in this verse is etelesen. The verb holds both finishing and accomplishing: the instruction reaches its completion, but the verse’s movement continues. Jesus goes on to teach and proclaim among the people in the disciples’ cities.
ALSO GROWS
telos: End, goal, or outcome.
τέλος
Completion carries the sense of reaching an aim, not simply stopping.
teleios: Complete or mature.
τέλειος
This related word echoes the idea of something brought toward its fullness.
διατάσσων
diatassōn
GROWS FROM
τάσσω
tassō
Put in order, arrange, or appoint.
“commanding” in this verse is diatassōn. The command carries the sense of arranging or assigning the twelve, giving their instruction a shape. Jesus then moves beyond that gathering into their cities, where the work continues in teaching and proclamation.
ALSO GROWS
taxis: Order or arrangement.
τάξις
It echoes the ordering within the disciples’ charge.
tetagmenos: Appointed or arranged.
τεταγμένος
It shows how the same word family can describe a person set into a role.
κηρύσσειν
kēryssein
GROWS FROM
κηρύσσω
kērussō
Proclaim publicly, as a herald announces a message.
The verse pairs teaching with public proclamation: explanation and announcement travel together into the cities. English “preach” can sound like a single kind of speech, while this word evokes a message carried openly to others.
ALSO GROWS
kēryx: A herald or public messenger.
κῆρυξ
The herald makes clear that proclamation is meant to reach people beyond a private circle.
kērygma: A proclamation or announced message.
κήρυγμα
It names the public message being carried into the cities.
THE PATTERN
Jesus’ teaching and proclamation move through inhabited places rather than remaining where instruction begins.
And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.THE THREAD
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.Matthew 4:23 uses the same Greek words for teaching and preaching as Matthew 11:1. The paired work continues as Jesus moves through the cities: instruction has reached completion, and his teaching and proclamation remain among the people.
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