What Does Matthew 25:41 Mean in the King James?
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
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 fire is named with the age-word that the next verse also uses for life, binding both outcomes to one horizon.
THE MEANING
The verse makes judgment present as a direct verdict: “Depart from me,” followed by curse and fire. The destination is described as prepared for the Slanderer and his messengers, and those addressed are sent into it. Separation and consequence arrive together in the sentence.
THE ROOT
αἰώνιον
aiōnion
GROWS FROM
αἰών
aiōn
An age, era, or span of time.
The fire is described with an adjective formed from the word for an age. The same adjective appears in the next verse for both punishment and life, a link the KJV’s different renderings, “everlasting” and “eternal”, conceal.
ALSO GROWS
aiōn: An age or era.
αἰών
This is the noun beneath “everlasting,” keeping the age-horizon audible in the description of the fire.
zōē aiōnios: Life of the age; life described with the age-word.
ζωὴ αἰώνιος
Matthew 25:46 uses the same adjective for life, joining the two outcomes through one Greek word.
διαβόλῳ
diabolō
GROWS FROM
διαβάλλω
diaballō
To slander or bring accusation; the related name means slanderer or accuser.
“devil” in this verse is diabolō. The title names a slanderer or accuser. Joined to “his messengers,” the wording presents an accuser with those who carry his message.
ALSO GROWS
diaballō: To slander or accuse.
διαβάλλω
The related verb makes the title’s sense of accusation visible in the verse.
diabolē: Slander or accusation.
διαβολή
This related noun shows the accusation carried in the name attached to the fire’s intended recipient.
ἀγγέλοις
angelois
GROWS FROM
ἀγγελλ-
angell-
To announce or bring a message; the related noun means messenger.
“angels” in this verse is angelois. The word means messengers. “His messengers” keeps their relation to the Slanderer in view: the fire is prepared for him and those carrying his message.
ALSO GROWS
angelos: Messenger or envoy.
ἄγγελος
This is the singular noun behind the word translated “angels,” preserving its sense of one sent with a message.
angelia: Message or announcement.
ἀγγελία
This related word makes the connection between the messengers and the message they carry explicit.
THE PATTERN
In these passages, judgment is pictured as an enacted separation, marked by expulsion or distance and by fire.
So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.THE THREAD
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.Both clauses use αἰώνιος (aiōnios, of the age): the KJV renders it “everlasting” for punishment and “eternal” for life. The contrast is between punishment and life; the underlying age-word is the same.
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