What Does Matthew 20:21 Mean in the King James?
And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
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 request rendered “Grant” also asks Jesus to say the seating into place, making his authority part of the desired honor.
THE MEANING
The question still makes desire visible: closeness to authority appears as a place beside it, and honor as something a ruler can authorize. Jesus’ opening question, “What wilt thou?”, brings the wish itself into the open before the seats are addressed.
THE ROOT
εἰπέ
eipe
GROWS FROM
λέγω (legō), λεγ- (leg-)
to say or speak
Εἰπέ is an imperative form of λέγω, “say.” So the request rendered “Grant” also asks Jesus to speak the arrangement; the wording brings his authority into the desired seating.
ALSO GROWS
legō: say, speak
λέγω
This is the verb behind εἰπέ, showing that the request includes a spoken authorization.
logos: word, statement
λόγος
This related word makes the link between speech and the declared arrangement visible.
βασιλεία
basileia
GROWS FROM
βασιλ- (basil-), βασιλεύς (basileus)
kingship, royal rule
“kingdom” in this verse is basileia. The root points to a ruler’s active reign as well as the realm under it. The requested seats are positions within the order of his rule.
ALSO GROWS
basileus: king, ruler
βασιλεύς
The kingdom is named in relation to the one who rules it.
basileuō: reign, rule as king
βασιλεύω
This verb makes the active governance inside βασιλεία clear.
THE PATTERN
A seat at a ruler’s right or left marks privileged nearness within that ruler’s order.
Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.THE THREAD
And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.The verb “sit” repeats the same Greek root as the request, καθίσωσιν and καθίσαι. Jesus’ answer opens the request further: these places are not his to assign by declaration; they are given according to what the Father has prepared.
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