What Does Matthew 24:27 Mean in the King James?
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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 “coming” is παρουσία (parousia), presence arriving into view, and the lightning pictures a presence no hidden corner can contain.
THE MEANING
Here, the Son of Man’s coming is pictured as visible across the whole horizon, from east to west. Its reach cannot be confined to one place or kept from view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that the Son of Man’s coming can be confined to a hidden place and known only to a few.
THE ROOT
παρουσία
parousia
GROWS FROM
παρειμί (pareimi; para + eimi)
To be present or at hand; the related noun carries the sense of presence or arrival.
“coming” in this verse is parousia. The word holds both arrival and presence, so the verse pictures more than someone approaching from elsewhere: it names a presence that comes into view. The lightning makes that appearing unmistakable across the horizon.
ALSO GROWS
pareimi: To be present, be at hand.
παρειμί
Its verb form gives the sense of presence beneath the noun translated “coming.”
parōn: Present; being there.
παρών
This participle from the same verb family makes the idea of being present concrete.
φαίνεται
phainetai
GROWS FROM
φαίνω
phainō
To appear, become visible, or bring into view.
“shineth” in this verse is phainetai. The word carries the sense of appearing or becoming visible alongside the brightness in the image. The verse joins lightning’s light to disclosure: the Son of Man’s coming is seen across the sky.
ALSO GROWS
phaneros: Visible, manifest, clear.
φανερός
It shows the same word family’s emphasis on what comes into view.
epiphaneia: Appearance, manifestation.
ἐπιφάνεια
This related form names an appearing, echoing the verse’s image of a presence made visible.
ἀνατολῶν
anatolōn
GROWS FROM
ἀνατέλλω
anatellō
To rise or spring up; the related noun can mean sunrise or east.
The word for east carries the sense of rising, as in sunrise. The image stretches from the place where light rises to the west, making the whole horizon the measure of its visibility.
ALSO GROWS
anatolē: Rising, sunrise, or east.
ἀνατολή
This related noun holds the rising-light sense inside the direction named in the verse.
anatellō: To rise or spring up.
ἀνατέλλω
The verb makes the east’s name an image of light beginning to rise.
THE PATTERN
The appearing of the Son of Man is pictured as public and horizon-wide, visible beyond any one place.
His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.THE THREAD
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?The word translated “coming” is the same Greek noun, παρουσία (parousia), used in both verses. Here the question asks for its sign; Matthew 24:27 pictures that presence through lightning visible from east to west.
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