What Does Matthew 20:26 Mean in the King James?
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
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 Greek word for “minister” names the person by the service they embody, making service the shape of greatness.
THE MEANING
Greatness among you takes the form of serving. In your present relationships, stature is revealed through how you attend to others, not merely by the rank you hold.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that greatness requires others to serve you: here, the one who serves is named great.
THE ROOT
διάκονος
diakonos
GROWS FROM
διακον-
diakon-
The Greek word family for serving or attending to another.
The word translated “minister” names a person who serves; its word family also names the act and the service itself. English can make “minister” sound like a position and “serve” like a task, while this family holds the person, action, and service together.
ALSO GROWS
diakoneō: to serve, attend to
διακονέω
The same word family names the action that gives the minister their role: serving.
diakonia: service, ministry
διακονία
The family also names the service itself, binding the person called a minister to the work of serving.
THE PATTERN
Scripture presents greatness as something revealed through service.
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.THE THREAD
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.The same διακον- family appears here as the action “to minister” (διακονέω, diakoneō), while Matthew 20:26 names the person who serves (διάκονος, diakonos). This connects greatness with service enacted, not merely carried as a title.
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