What Does Matthew 22:4 Mean in the King James?
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
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
In Greek, “prepared” and “ready” belong to one word-family: the invitation arrives when preparation has become welcome.
THE MEANING
You meet the call after the meal is prepared and the oxen and fatlings are killed: the welcome rests on provision already made. The marriage feast holds abundance together with the cost of a real meal. The invitation opens onto shared union at a table that is ready.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that you must first create what makes you welcome: the host has prepared the feast before the invitation reaches you.
THE ROOT
ἡτοίμασα
hētoimasa
GROWS FROM
ἑτοιμαζ- / ἑτοιμ-
To prepare or make ready; ready, prepared.
“prepared / ready” in this verse is hētoimasa. The Greek “prepared” (ἡτοίμασα, hētoimasa) and “ready” (ἕτοιμα, hetoima) belong to one word-family. English gives them different words, while the Greek links the host’s preparation directly to the state guests find when the call arrives.
ALSO GROWS
hetoimazō: Prepare, make ready.
ἑτοιμάζω
This verb describes the host’s action: the feast has been brought to readiness.
hetoimos: Ready, prepared.
ἕτοιμος
This related form names the state of all things after the host’s preparation, joining the work of preparing to the guests’ arrival.
THE PATTERN
The welcome is pictured as provision prepared before people are called to receive it.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.THE THREAD
And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.Luke uses ἕτοιμα (hetoima, “ready”), from the same word-family as Matthew’s ἡτοίμασα (hētoimasa, “I prepared”). The shared wording makes the hinge clear: the summons arrives when the preparation is complete.
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