What Does Matthew 24:44 Mean in the King James?

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Matthew 24:44 · 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

Readiness is not a prediction of the hour but a present state that holds even when expectation fails.

THE MEANING

The verse places you between a certain coming and an unknown hour: readiness is a present condition, not knowledge of the schedule. What you expect does not set the timing of the arrival.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It dissolves the belief that you can become ready by calculating the hour correctly.

THE ROOT

ἕτοιμοι

hetoimoi

GROWS FROM

ἑτοιμ-

hetoim-

Ready, prepared.

The Greek word family joins being ready with the act and state of preparation. The verse places that readiness in the present while the hour remains beyond expectation: preparation does not depend on predicting the moment.

ALSO GROWS

hetoimazō: Prepare, make ready.

ἑτοιμάζω

This verb makes readiness an active state of preparation, not a forecast of when the coming will occur.

hetoimasia: Readiness, preparation.

ἑτοιμασία

This noun names the condition the verse calls for while the timing remains unknown.

THE PATTERN

When the hour is hidden, readiness is present while the arrival remains certain.

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Luke 12:40 · KJVThe same pairing of readiness and an unexpected hour appears, making preparation independent of prediction.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 · KJVThe coming arrives outside ordinary expectation, keeping its timing beyond the reader’s control.

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Revelation 3:3 · KJVThe verse connects an unknown hour with the need to remain watchful in the present.

THE THREAD

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15 · KJV

The same Greek word for “ready,” ⁨ἕτοιμοι⁩ (hetoimoi), appears here: readiness is a condition held before the moment arrives. In Matthew, the hour is unknown; here, readiness meets whoever asks.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us