What Does Matthew 25:42 Mean in the King James?
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
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 hungry person’s need is presented as a need Jesus himself receives.
THE MEANING
Jesus identifies himself with the hungry and thirsty person before you; their bodily need is not separate from his presence. Recognition becomes concrete in what is given, or withheld, to sustain a body. The absence of food and drink is real deprivation, not simply a failure of feeling.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that honoring Jesus can be separated from responding to the material need of the person before you.
THE ROOT
ἐδώκατε
edōkate
GROWS FROM
δω-/δο- (dō-/do-), the root in δίδωμι (didōmi)
to give, grant, or bestow
“gave” in this verse is edōkate. The verb carries the ordinary force of giving or granting, and its word family also names the gift and the act of giving. Here the missing gift is not an abstract kindness: food and drink are the provision left ungiven.
ALSO GROWS
dosis: a giving; a gift
δόσις
The related noun makes giving itself visible as an act, sharpening the verse’s focus on what the hungry and thirsty person does not receive.
dōrea: a gift; a free gift
δωρεά
This related word for a gift shows the same giving-root taking form as something received; here that concrete gift of provision is withheld.
THE PATTERN
Recognition of the divine becomes visible in whether material need receives concrete provision.
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?THE THREAD
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?Matthew’s “gave” and James’s “give” are forms of δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning “to give.” James makes the same failure concrete: words of warmth and fullness cannot replace the provisions left ungiven.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us