What Does Matthew 26:50 Mean in the King James?
And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
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
Jesus calls the one before him “Friend” as the others lay hands on him and seize him; the word of relationship does not cancel the force of the act.
THE MEANING
“Friend” stands beside Jesus’ question, “wherefore art thou come?”; the group then lays hands on him and takes him. The address does not soften or undo what is done to his body.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the assumption that a friendly address proves a gentle encounter: Jesus is then seized.
THE ROOT
ἐκράτησαν
ekratēsan
GROWS FROM
κρατέω
krateō
To hold fast, seize, or take possession.
The verb translated “took” belongs to a word family that also names might and self-mastery. Here that force is directed outward: the group takes hold of Jesus, and the nearby words “laid hands” make the bodily action plain.
ALSO GROWS
kratos: Might, strength, or dominion.
κράτος
This branch names the power that the verb puts into action as the group takes hold of Jesus.
enkrateia: Self-control, mastery over oneself.
ἐγκράτεια
This related word applies mastery inward, while the verb here describes control being exerted over another person.
THE PATTERN
Human force turns contact into custody by taking hold of another person’s body and controlling where it goes.
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.THE THREAD
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.The Greek verb translated “laid hold” is the same verb translated “took” here. Matthew uses it again for a ruler’s physical seizure of a person, making the repeated language of grip and custody visible.
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