What Does Matthew 14:33 Mean in the King James?
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
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
Their confession takes bodily shape: they move toward Jesus and bow before naming him the Son of God.
THE MEANING
As the wind falls silent in Jesus’ presence, recognition moves into the body: you draw near, bow, and speak who he is. The verse holds posture and confession together, naming him the Son of God.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
That recognizing Jesus is only an inward conclusion, detached from the body; here, the confession comes with approach and bowing.
THE ROOT
προσεκύνησαν
prosekynēsan
GROWS FROM
προσκυν-
proskyn-
Bow down, prostrate oneself, or render obeisance.
“worshipped” in this verse is prosekynēsan. The action is bodily: the word carries the shape of lowering oneself before someone. Its Hebrew counterpart, שָׁחָה (shachah, to bow down), preserves that same physical contour; here, the bowed posture and the words “Son of God” form one recognition.
ALSO GROWS
proskynēsis: Bowing down or obeisance
προσκύνησις
The related noun names the act itself, keeping the focus on a posture rather than an inward idea alone.
proskynētēs: One who bows down; worshipper
προσκυνητής
This related word names the person by the posture, echoing the disciples’ embodied response.
προσελθόντες
proselthontes
GROWS FROM
ἔρχ-
erch-
Come, go, or arrive.
The form here means “having come toward.” English “came” can sound like simple arrival, but the Greek places them moving toward Jesus; their bowed confession follows that approach.
ALSO GROWS
proserchomai: Come toward; approach
προσέρχομαι
This related verb makes the direction of their movement explicit: they approach Jesus.
eiserchomai: Enter; go in
εἰσέρχομαι
This related verb uses the same root with a different prefix, showing how the root carries movement while the prefix shapes its direction.
THE PATTERN
When divine authority becomes visible, response joins bodily reverence to spoken recognition.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;THE THREAD
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.The same verb, προσκυνέω (proskyneō, bow down), describes Cornelius falling before Peter; Peter immediately raises him and says he is a man. That contrast sharpens Matthew’s scene: the disciples’ bow is joined to naming Jesus the Son of God.
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