What Does Matthew 20:34 Mean in the King James?
So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
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 miracle begins before sight returns: compassion moves from the inward parts into touch.
THE MEANING
Compassion meets you where vision has failed; it does not stand at a distance but reaches your eyes. Sight is received, and newly seeing eyes turn toward a path of following.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that you must first find your way before help can reach you: compassion comes close while you are still unable to see.
THE ROOT
σπλαγχνισθείς
splagchnistheis
GROWS FROM
σπλάγχνον (splagchnon), stem σπλαγχν-
Inner parts, entrails; the body’s inward center.
The Greek verb for compassion grows from the body’s inward parts, so compassion is a stirring felt deep within. Here that inward movement is followed by touch at their eyes: compassion becomes approach.
ALSO GROWS
splagchnon: Inner parts, entrails
σπλάγχνον
The noun names the bodily inward center from which the verb for compassion grows.
eusplagchnos: Tenderhearted, compassionate
εὔσπλαγχνος
The same inward-parts seed describes a tenderhearted person, linking compassion with felt tenderness toward another.
ἀνέβλεψαν
aneblepsan
GROWS FROM
βλέπω
blepō
To see, to look.
“received sight” in this verse is aneblepsan. The verb combines βλέπω, “to see,” with ἀνά, which can mean “up” or “again.” The phrase can carry the sense of looking up or seeing again: sight is received as restored perception, and the next movement is following.
ALSO GROWS
blepō: To see, to look
βλέπω
This is the base verb inside the word translated “received sight.”
anablepsis: Recovery of sight
ἀνάβλεψις
This related noun uses the same “up/again + see” form and names the restoration that the verb expresses here.
THE PATTERN
Sight opens as a gift, revealing what was hidden and making a way forward visible.
And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.THE THREAD
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.Mark uses the same Greek compassion word as Matthew, and the inward stirring again becomes a hand reaching out. In Matthew, that touch meets the eyes; here, it meets the body with cleansing.
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