What Does Matthew 4:9 Mean in the King James?
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
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 kingdoms are offered with a posture attached: they go to the one who bows.
THE MEANING
Everything is promised, but only on the condition that you bow to the one making the offer. The verse exposes a bargain in which possession is tied to posture, making allegiance visible in the body.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that the promised gift can be separated from the allegiance demanded in exchange.
THE ROOT
προσκυνήσῃς
proskynēsēs
GROWS FROM
προσκυν-
proskyn-
To bow down or prostrate oneself in homage.
English “worship” can sound inward, but this verb describes bodily obeisance; the verse reinforces that sense with the separate phrase “fall down.” The condition demands a visible posture as the price of the offered kingdoms.
ALSO GROWS
proskynēsis: Bowing down, prostration, or worship.
προσκύνησις
This noun makes the posture demanded here explicit: the offer seeks an act of obeisance.
proskynētēs: One who bows down or worships.
προσκυνητής
The related word names the person by the posture and allegiance expressed in the act.
δώσω
dōsō
GROWS FROM
δο-/δω- (do-/dō-)
To give, grant, or place something in another’s possession.
“give” in this verse is dōsō. The promised giving is a transfer with a condition attached. The root helps expose the offer as an exchange: possession is placed on one side, the bow on the other.
ALSO GROWS
dōron: A gift.
δῶρον
The promised kingdoms are presented as something granted, while the condition reveals the price bound to that gift.
dosis: A giving or gift.
δόσις
This related noun keeps attention on the act of transferring what is offered.
THE PATTERN
Bowing and service make allegiance visible by showing whose claim is being honored.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?THE THREAD
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.John uses the same Greek verb, προσκυνέω (proskyneō, bow down), found in Matthew’s demand. The shared word shows that the posture sought by the offer can also be directed toward the Father; the question is whom the bow honors.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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