What Does Matthew 9:23 Mean in the King James?

And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

Matthew 9:23 · 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 house is already filled with flute music and uproar when Jesus enters and sees it.

THE MEANING

The ruler’s house is filled with flute players and a crowd in tumult. Jesus enters into that sound and sees the scene as it is. The noise is present, but it is not all that is present.

THE ROOT

θορυβούμενον

thoryboumenon

GROWS FROM

θορυβέω

thorybeō

to make a tumult; to disturb

The word translated “noise” carries the sense of disturbance and uproar, not sound alone. Greek ⁨θορυβέω⁩ (thorybeō, to make a tumult) connects the crowd’s sound with the disruption filling the house.

ALSO GROWS

thorybos: tumult; uproar

θόρυβος

This related noun makes clear that the sound is a commotion, not merely a collection of voices.

thorybeō: to make an uproar; to disturb

θορυβέω

The verb names what the crowd’s sound does to the room: it makes the scene turbulent.

αὐλητάς

auletas

GROWS FROM

αὐλέω

auleō

to play the flute

The word translated “minstrels” specifies flute players. Their played music stands beside the crowd’s ⁨θορυβέω⁩ (thorybeō, tumult-making) uproar: the house holds both a played sound and a disturbance.

ALSO GROWS

aulos: flute

αὐλός

The instrument is present inside the word for the players, making their sound concrete.

auletēs: flute player

αὐλητής

This related noun identifies the people in the room by the instrument they play.

THE PATTERN

The noise surrounding a crisis can be real without being the final account of what is happening.

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Exodus 14:14 · KJVThe verse places the people’s stillness beside the LORD’s action, so the crisis does not claim the whole scene.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10 · KJVThe call to release one’s grip and perceive God opens a way of knowing beyond the surrounding tumult.

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:12 · KJVThe verse distinguishes divine presence from the loud forces around it and attends to the quiet voice that follows.

THE THREAD

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Mark 5:39 · KJV

Matthew’s “making a noise” and Mark’s “ado” translate forms of ⁨θορυβέω⁩ (thorybeō, to make a tumult). Mark makes explicit what Matthew’s verse stages: Jesus addresses the uproar while naming the girl’s condition otherwise.

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