What Does Matthew 5:6 Mean in the King James?

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Matthew 5:6 · 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

The people still hungry for alignment are already called flourishing.

THE MEANING

Your hunger and thirst for alignment place you among the flourishing now; the ache does not disqualify you. The verse holds that desire within a promise: you will be filled, satisfied rather than left in lack.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that flourishing begins only after you have attained perfect alignment. Here, those still longing for it are already called flourishing.

THE ROOT

δικαιοσύνη

dikaiosynē

GROWS FROM

δικαι-

dikai-

Alignment; being right or in right relation.

“righteousness” in this verse is dikaiosynē. The word carries the sense of alignment, not merely a status someone possesses. The verse calls the longing for that alignment flourishing before the longing is satisfied.

ALSO GROWS

dikaios: just, right, aligned

δίκαιος

This related word describes one who is in right relation, clarifying the direction of the hunger.

dikaioō: justify, set right

δικαιόω

This verb shows the same word family reaching toward what is made right or brought into alignment.

μακάριοι

makarioi

GROWS FROM

μακαρ-

makar-

Flourishing; a state of well-being.

“Blessed” in this verse is makarioi. The verse calls the hungry flourishing while they are still hungry. Their flourishing is not postponed until appetite disappears; it is already true of them as they long for alignment.

ALSO GROWS

makarios: flourishing, fortunate

μακάριος

This singular form underlies the verse’s plural ⁨μακάριοι⁩ (makarioi, flourishing ones), naming their present condition.

makarizō: call or consider flourishing, fortunate

μακαρίζω

This verbal branch makes the naming explicit: flourishing is recognized in people whose longing remains.

χορτασθήσονται

chortasthēsontai

GROWS FROM

χορταζ-

chortaz-

Feed until satisfied; sate.

“filled” in this verse is chortasthēsontai. The promise answers hunger and thirst with the language of being fed to satisfaction. Fulfillment is pictured as real nourishment reaching an appetite, not as an abstract prize.

ALSO GROWS

chortos: grass, fodder, pasture

χόρτος

This related noun evokes food that sustains a living creature, giving the promise a concrete, nourishing sense.

chortazō: feed, satisfy, fill to satiety

χορτάζω

This verb is the dictionary form behind the verse’s promise: the hungry are fed until satisfied.

THE PATTERN

Longing for God’s alignment is recognized as flourishing before that longing reaches satisfaction.

For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Psalm 107:9 · KJVLonging and hunger meet a response that satisfies rather than leaving the soul in lack.

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Isaiah 55:1 · KJVThirst is met with freely given nourishment, extending the same movement from appetite to fullness.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:35 · KJVThe image of bread answers hunger and thirst with the promise of lasting satisfaction.

THE THREAD

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 · KJV

The same Greek word, ⁨δικαιοσύνη⁩ (dikaiosynē, alignment), appears in both verses. Matthew 5:6 names hunger for alignment as flourishing; Matthew 6:33 places that same alignment among what is sought within God’s governance.

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