What Does Matthew 17:13 Mean in the King James?
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
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
Understanding is the moment separate words find their referent: what Jesus says resolves into John.
THE MEANING
The saying comes into focus as Jesus’ words about Elijah connect with John the Baptist. Here, understanding happens as the pieces come together; nothing new needs to be added.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that understanding is only hearing words: meaning becomes clear when the words and what they point to are joined.
THE ROOT
συνῆκαν
synēkan
GROWS FROM
συνίημι (sýn + hiēmi)
To bring together; συνίημι means to understand or perceive by putting things together.
“understood” in this verse is synēkan. The Greek verb carries a sense of joining pieces, not merely receiving information. The disciples connect Jesus’ words with John, and the meaning becomes visible in that connection.
ALSO GROWS
synesis: understanding, insight
σύνεσις
This related noun names the joined perception the disciples reach when they recognize John as the one Jesus means.
synetos: discerning, intelligent
συνετός
This related adjective describes perception that sees how the pieces fit, as the disciples do here.
THE PATTERN
Understanding arrives when words are connected to the pattern or person they point to.
In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,THE THREAD
Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.Matthew 17:13 uses συνίημι (syniēmi), “to bring together; understand,” the same verb used here. In both verses, understanding is recognition that the words and what they point to belong together.
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