What Does Matthew 9:4 Mean in the King James?
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
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 thought in your heart is already part of the conversation: Jesus answers it before it leaves your mouth.
THE MEANING
Your inward reasoning is open to Jesus before it becomes speech. His question brings the thought held in your heart into the open and addresses it directly.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A thought is harmless or invisible simply because it has not been spoken.
THE ROOT
ἐνθυμήσεις
enthymēseis
GROWS FROM
θυμ-
thym-
Heat, passion, inward stirring.
Matthew uses the same word-family for the thoughts Jesus knows and for the thinking he challenges. The root θυμ- carries heat or passion, showing thought as inwardly stirred movement rather than detached information.
ALSO GROWS
thymos: Heat, passion, anger.
θυμός
This root carries the inward heat that gives the thought word its sense of something being turned over within.
enthumeomai: To consider, ponder, or turn something over inwardly.
ἐνθυμέομαι
This is the verb translated “think” in the same question, so the verse names both their thoughts and their thinking from one word-family.
THE PATTERN
The inward heart is visible to God before its thoughts become outward speech.
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.Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.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
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:Matthew uses the same word for “thoughts” in both verses. Here, those known thoughts open onto the image of a divided kingdom, showing how what is held inwardly can disclose the condition of the whole.
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