What Does Matthew 6:16 Mean in the King James?
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
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
They make their faces disappear so they can appear: the concealment itself becomes the advertisement.
THE MEANING
The verse names a fast arranged for an audience: the face itself carries the announcement. The audience’s recognition is the reward the performer receives.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It dissolves the belief that visible deprivation proves inward devotion; here, the visible display brings the human recognition the performer seeks.
THE ROOT
ἀφανίζουσιν
aphanizousin
GROWS FROM
φαν (phan) — appear, show, become visible; ἀ- (a-) makes ἀφανίζω mean make unseen or disfigure
The shared Greek word-family concerns appearing or becoming visible; with the privative prefix ἀ- (a-, not), it can mean making unseen.
“disfigure / appear” in this verse is aphanizousin. The Greek places two forms of the φαν (phan, appear/show) family against each other: they disfigure their faces with ἀφανίζω (aphanizō, make unseen) so they may appear with φαίνω (phainō, become visible). The fast becomes a visibility strategy, with the altered face advertising the act.
ALSO GROWS
phainō: Appear, become visible, or shine.
φαίνω
The verse uses this verb for being seen by people, directly completing the contrast with ἀφανίζω (aphanizō, make unseen).
phaneroō: Make manifest or disclose.
φανερόω
The same φαν (phan, appear/show) family appears in John 3:21, where deeds are made manifest in the light.
THE PATTERN
When devotion is shaped for human sight, recognition from people becomes its reward.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.THE THREAD
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.Both verses use the φαν (phan, appear/show) word-family: Matthew describes a face arranged so the faster appears to people, while John describes deeds becoming manifest in the light. The shared root opens a distinction between staging visibility for an audience and having what is done come into view.
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