What Does Matthew 22:30 Mean in the King James?

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Matthew 22:30 · KJV

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 two forms of “marry” share one Greek root, so the verse sets aside both entering marriage and being given in marriage in resurrection.

THE MEANING

You are reading a claim about resurrection life: people there neither marry nor are given in marriage. The comparison to God’s messengers in heaven points to a mode of life beyond marriage, without saying what every other human bond becomes.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that resurrection simply resumes this life with its marriage arrangements intact.

THE ROOT

γαμέω

gameō

GROWS FROM

γαμ

gam

The shared Greek stem for marriage.

English makes “marry” and “are given in marriage” sound like separate ideas, but both verbs grow from the same ⁨γαμ⁩ (gam) stem. The verse names both sides of the marriage arrangement, then says neither belongs to resurrection life.

ALSO GROWS

gameō: To marry.

γαμέω

This is the active verb in the verse: a person enters marriage.

gamizō: To give someone in marriage.

γαμίζω

This is the passive-side counterpart in the verse, completing the pair.

gamos: Marriage or a wedding.

γάμος

The noun shows the shared stem names the marriage bond itself, not only one person’s action.

THE PATTERN

Resurrection is a transformed mode of life, not a simple continuation of present arrangements.

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Luke 20:36 · KJVResurrection life is described as a changed condition in which death no longer defines human life.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:44 · KJVThe raised life has a different mode of embodiment from the life that is sown.

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4 · KJVResurrection opens into a newness of life rather than merely restoring the former way of living.

THE THREAD

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Luke 20:34 · KJV

Luke places the same two marriage verbs on the side of this world, then contrasts them with resurrection life. Their shared ⁨γαμ⁩ (gam) stem makes clear that Matthew’s pair names the whole marriage arrangement.

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