What Does Matthew 15:9 Mean in the King James?

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 15:9 · 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.

THE KEY

Reverence can be directed toward God while the teaching carried under that reverence comes from people.

THE MEANING

This verse names a present possibility: reverence toward God can coexist with teaching that originates in human commands. That makes the worship vain, not because the reverence is unreal, but because what is taught as divine instruction has a human source.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie it undoes is that sincere religious observance makes the teaching attached to it God’s truth.

THE ROOT

σέβονται

sebontai

GROWS FROM

σέβ-

seb-

To revere or show reverence.

“worship” in this verse is sebontai. This word carries the sense of reverence. The tension is that reverence addressed to God can be joined to teaching whose authority comes from people; the sentence holds the devotion and exposes the source of the teaching.

ALSO GROWS

sebomenoi: Revering; devout.

σεβόμενοι

This related form describes God-reverers in Acts 17:4, showing that the same reverence-family can describe devotion directed toward God.

sebazomai: To revere or worship.

σεβάζομαι

This related verb appears in Romans 1:25 for reverence directed toward created things, showing how much the object of reverence matters.

μάτην

matēn

GROWS FROM

μαται-

matai-

Empty, futile, or without result.

“in vain” in this verse is matēn. The word presents the worship as empty or fruitless. The outward act of reverence remains, yet what is taught gives it no truth when human commands are presented as God’s instruction.

ALSO GROWS

mataios: Empty or futile.

μάταιος

This related adjective describes the thoughts of the wise as “vain” in 1 Corinthians 3:20, carrying the same sense of emptiness.

mataiotēs: Futility or vanity.

ματαιότης

Ephesians 4:17 uses this noun for the “vanity” of the mind, extending the same root-family’s sense of emptiness.

THE PATTERN

When human precepts are passed off as God’s instruction, religious forms can remain while their allegiance shifts.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Isaiah 29:13 · KJVHuman precepts shape what is presented as reverence toward God, while the heart is far away.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:8 · KJVA human tradition takes the place of God’s command while religious practices continue.

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Colossians 2:22 · KJVThe verse names commandments and teachings from people as human in source, echoing Matthew’s warning about what is taught as divine instruction.

THE THREAD

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

Acts 16:14 · KJV

The Greek word translated “worshipped” belongs to the same reverence-family as Matthew’s “worship.” Acts pairs Lydia’s reverence with an opened heart and attentive hearing, giving a picture of reverence joined to receiving what is spoken.

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