What Does Matthew 9:24 Mean in the King James?
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
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
Before Jesus speaks of awakening, he tells the crowd to make room and sends their laughter out of the room.
THE MEANING
The verse meets you where a verdict has hardened: the girl looks dead, Jesus names her as sleeping, and the crowd laughs. His command clears the space around her, so their scorn does not get the final word over what can happen next.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that what looks finished is beyond awakening.
THE ROOT
καθεύδει
katheudei
GROWS FROM
καθευδ-
katheud-
The Greek verb means to sleep or be asleep.
“sleepeth” in this verse is katheudei. Jesus names the girl’s condition with a word for sleep, placing the possibility of awakening inside the sentence. The same verb family can speak of people who are asleep, making the image larger than a passing comparison.
ALSO GROWS
katheudō: To sleep or be asleep.
καθεύδω
This is the verb’s dictionary form and names the state Jesus sees.
katheudōn: Sleeping; one who is asleep.
καθεύδων
This participle uses the same root to describe a person in the state of sleep.
ἀναχωρεῖτε
anachōreite
GROWS FROM
χωρε-
chōre-
The verb family carries the sense of space or room: making room, having room, or withdrawing; ἀνα- adds the sense of moving back or away.
The command translated “Give place” tells the crowd to withdraw and clear the room. The root also carries the sense of making room to receive, so the verse joins physical space with openness to what the crowd cannot yet accept.
ALSO GROWS
anachōreō: Withdraw or depart.
ἀναχωρέω
This is the verb behind Jesus’ command to the crowd.
chōreō: Make room, have room, or receive.
χωρέω
It shows how the same root can describe room being made for a person or a saying.
chōrousin: They receive or make room for.
χωροῦσιν
This form appears in Matthew 19:11, where people are said to receive a saying.
κατεγέλων
kategelōn
GROWS FROM
γελ-
gel-
The root carries the sense of laughing; the compound καταγελάω directs that laughter at someone, giving it the force of ridicule.
“laughed him to scorn” in this verse is kategelōn. The scorn is carried by laughter itself, aimed at Jesus. The root keeps the sound of laughter visible while the compound shows its direction: this is laughter at someone, not shared amusement.
ALSO GROWS
gelaō: Laugh.
γελάω
The base verb shows the action contained in the compound.
gelōs: Laughter.
γέλως
The related noun names the sound and act that become ridicule in the verse.
katagelaō: Laugh at or ridicule.
καταγελάω
This compound gives the laughter its target and scornful force.
THE PATTERN
Scripture names death as sleep when awakening and life remain in view.
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.THE THREAD
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.Matthew 9:24 uses ἀναχωρέω (anachōreō, withdraw or make room) to clear the crowd from the room. Matthew 19:11 uses the related χωρέω (chōreō, make room or receive): the same root moves from making physical room to receiving a saying.
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