What Does Matthew 11:18 Mean in the King James?
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
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
John’s abstinence is visible, but the demon charge is only the crowd’s interpretation of it.
THE MEANING
The verse places John’s abstaining from food and drink beside the claim that he has a demon. When someone gives your conduct a hostile explanation, that accusation remains their reading; it does not make the explanation true.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that a confident spiritual accusation proves what is wrong with the person named: it presents the charge as what the speakers say, not as what John is.
THE ROOT
δαιμόνιον
daimonion
GROWS FROM
δαίμων
daimōn
A spirit or supernatural being; here, a demon.
“devil” in this verse is daimonion. The Greek is δαιμόνιον (daimonion, “demon”), from the family of δαίμων (daimōn, “spirit being”), rather than διάβολος (diabolos, “Slanderer”). The verse marks this as their accusation, “they say”, so the word reveals the charge of demonic influence without affirming it as John’s nature.
ALSO GROWS
daimōn: A spirit or supernatural being.
δαίμων
This related word makes clear that the charge frames John’s abstinence as the influence of a spirit.
daimonizomai: To be afflicted or possessed by a demon.
δαιμονίζομαι
This related verb describes the state the speakers imply, showing how they turn John’s conduct into an explanation about his person.
THE PATTERN
People can turn a messenger’s conduct or presence into evidence against the message.
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.THE THREAD
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.Both verses use ἔρχομαι (erchomai, “come”): John comes abstaining, while the Son of Man comes eating and drinking. The repeated verb sets opposite ways of coming side by side, and both draw accusations.
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