What Does Matthew 21:2 Mean in the King James?
Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
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 colt’s destination is named while it is still tied: release is its first movement toward arrival.
THE MEANING
Both animals are found bound, yet the verse holds their restraint together with their next movement: they are loosed and brought to Jesus. Their present binding does not erase their availability; release opens the way forward.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being bound means you are unusable until you have freed yourself.
THE ROOT
λύσατε
lysate
GROWS FROM
λύω (lyō; Greek stem λυ-)
To loosen, untie, or release.
“loose” in this verse is lysate. The command names an actual unbinding that makes movement possible. The same word family includes λύτρον, a ransom or release-price, linking loosening with the means of release.
ALSO GROWS
apolyō: To release or dismiss.
ἀπολύω
This related verb carries loosening into the act of letting someone go.
lytron: Ransom; a price of release.
λύτρον
The word extends release from the untying itself to what secures freedom.
δεδεμένον
dedemenon
GROWS FROM
δέω (deō; Greek stem δε-)
To bind or tie.
“tied” in this verse is dedemenon. The form describes the colt as already bound when it is found. Its word family also names bonds and prisoners, making the restraint concrete; the following command answers that condition with release.
ALSO GROWS
desmos: A bond or chain.
δεσμός
It names the binding that holds someone or something in place.
desmōtēs: A prisoner or captive.
δεσμώτης
It shows how binding can describe the condition of one held fast.
THE PATTERN
Release is the threshold between restraint and movement into what comes next.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.THE THREAD
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.The command translated “Loose” is the same Greek verb, λύω (lyō), used here for the colt. In both verses, release answers a real binding and opens the way for movement.
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