What Does Matthew 6:18 Mean in the King James?
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
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 Greek root behind “appear” also underlies “openly”: fasting hidden from people is still seen by the Father, whose response brings it into view.
THE MEANING
Your fast is outside people’s gaze but never outside the Father’s sight. The Father sees you in the hidden place and rewards you openly. Human recognition is not the measure of whether the act is seen.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse dissolves the belief that devotion counts only when other people notice it.
THE ROOT
φανῇς
phanēs phanerō
GROWS FROM
φαν-/φαιν- (phan-/phain-)
To appear, become visible, or bring to light.
“appear; openly” in this verse is phanēs phanerō. The verse’s “appear” and “openly” come from the same word family; English makes them sound like separate ideas. The contrast is about audience: human visibility is withheld, while the Father’s seeing can bring the act into the open.
ALSO GROWS
phaneros: Visible, manifest.
φανερός
The verse uses this related word for the open place where the Father rewards.
phanerōsis: Manifestation, disclosure.
φανέρωσις
This branch makes the root’s movement from hiddenness into visibility explicit.
κρυπτός
kryptos
GROWS FROM
κρυπτ-
krypt-
To hide or conceal.
“secret” in this verse is kryptos. The word names what is concealed from human view, but the verse does not equate concealment with absence. The Father sees in that hidden place.
ALSO GROWS
kryptō: To hide, conceal.
κρύπτω
The verb shows the action behind what is called secret.
apokryphos: Hidden away, concealed.
ἀπόκρυφος
This related word carries the same sense of being out of view, sharpening the verse’s contrast with what becomes open.
ἀποδώσει
apodōsei
GROWS FROM
δίδωμι (didōmi), within ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi)
To give; with apo-, to give back, render, or recompense.
The word translated “reward” is ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi), meaning “to render” or “give back.” The Father answers what he sees with a response, while the verse leaves that response in his hands.
ALSO GROWS
didōmi: To give, grant.
δίδωμι
The word’s base keeps the Father’s response grounded in giving.
apodosis: A giving back, repayment, recompense.
ἀπόδοσις
This related noun makes clear why the verse’s “reward” can carry the sense of a response rendered.
THE PATTERN
What is hidden from human eyes remains visible to God and can be brought into the open by God.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.THE THREAD
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.John’s “made manifest” comes from the same word family behind “appear” and “openly” here. It shows deeds coming into the light as something wrought in God, rather than performed for an audience.
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