What Does Matthew 2:7 Mean in the King James?
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
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 star comes into view while Herod’s summons stays out of view, so visibility and secrecy meet in the same sentence.
THE MEANING
The star is visible, but Herod’s summons is secret and his question is exact. A sign can be visible while the purpose of the attention it draws stays concealed.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A precise question does not prove that the questioner is transparent.
THE ROOT
λάθρᾳ
lathra
GROWS FROM
λανθάνω (lanthanō), stem λαθ-
To escape notice, remain hidden, or pass beyond awareness.
“privily” in this verse is lathra. The word carries the sense of slipping beyond notice, making secrecy part of the summons itself. Herod’s exact question about the star comes through an approach kept out of public view.
ALSO GROWS
lanthanō: To escape notice or remain hidden.
λανθάνω
This related verb makes clear that “privily” carries the idea of something kept from awareness.
lēthē: Forgetfulness or oblivion.
λήθη
This related word links what is hidden with what passes out of notice.
φαινομένου
phainomenou
GROWS FROM
φαίνω (phainō), stem φαν-
To shine, appear, or come into view.
“appeared” in this verse is phainomenou. The Greek describes the star as coming into view, with the same word family used for shining and making something manifest. The sentence sets the star’s visibility against the hiddenness of Herod’s summons.
ALSO GROWS
phainō: To shine, appear, or come into view.
φαίνω
This is the verb family behind the star’s appearing and the light’s shining.
phaneroō: To make visible or disclose.
φανερόω
This branch carries the same movement from what is unseen into what can be seen.
epiphainō: To appear or shine upon.
ἐπιφαίνω
This related verb keeps the image of light becoming visible.
ἠκρίβωσεν
ēkribōsen
GROWS FROM
ἀκριβόω (akriboo), stem ἀκριβ-
To determine or ascertain precisely.
“enquired diligently” in this verse is ēkribōsen. The verb carries the force of finding out precisely, not merely asking with effort. Herod seeks the star’s timeline with exactness while the manner of his inquiry remains concealed.
ALSO GROWS
akribēs: Exact or precise.
ἀκριβής
This adjective shows the precision carried by the inquiry.
akribeia: Exactness or precision.
ἀκρίβεια
This related noun makes the careful measurement in Herod’s question visible.
THE PATTERN
A visible thing and a hidden purpose can occupy the same moment; outward appearance does not make inner reality transparent.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.THE THREAD
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.The Greek verb translated “appeared” here belongs to the same φαίνω (phainō) family as “shineth” in John 1:5. Both describe light coming into view, connecting the star’s appearance with light shining amid darkness.
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