What Does Matthew 8:14 Mean in the King James?
And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
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 names fever from πῦρ (pyr, “fire”) and describes her as laid down by a form of βάλλω (ballō, “to cast”), holding burning heat and bodily helplessness in the same scene where Jesus sees her.
THE MEANING
When illness lays you low, you remain more than the symptom. Jesus sees the woman while the fever still burns, and the verse holds her vulnerability in view before the healing arrives.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being laid low makes you invisible until you are well again.
THE ROOT
πυρέσσουσαν
pyressousan
GROWS FROM
πυρ-
pyr-
Fire, burning heat.
English names a condition; the Greek form keeps the fire image audible. Fever is a burning state in the scene, but Jesus sees the woman within it rather than only the heat.
ALSO GROWS
pyr: Fire.
πῦρ
This is the seed of the fever word, making the body’s heat sound like fire.
pyretos: Fever.
πυρετός
The same fire family names the fever that leaves her in the next verse.
βεβλημένην
beblēmenēn
GROWS FROM
βαλλ-
ball-
Throw, cast, or lay down.
The perfect passive form presents her as having been laid down and remaining there. Its verb also carries the sense of casting, giving the posture a forceful edge while leaving the agent unstated.
ALSO GROWS
ballō: Throw, cast, or lay down.
βάλλω
The Greek form translated “laid” comes from this verb, so the posture carries its casting shade.
bolē: A throw or casting.
βολή
This related noun preserves the same casting action, giving the word family a sharper physical image than “laid” alone.
THE PATTERN
Being seen in distress is the first movement toward restoration.
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.THE THREAD
And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.The Greek word πυρετός (pyretos, “fever”) in the next verse belongs to the same πυρ- (pyr-, “fire”) family as the fever word here. The fire that has laid her down leaves, and she rises.
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