What Does Philippians 1:8 Mean in the King James?
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
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 love reaching toward you is Christ’s own deep inward compassion, not a distant idea.
THE MEANING
This verse speaks of a longing that reaches from the deepest place of feeling, carrying the tenderness of Jesus Christ. The affection holding you is intimate and alive, not merely a thought or sentiment.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that Christ’s love reaches you only as an idea: here it is described as intimate, inward longing.
THE ROOT
σπλάγχνοις
splagchnois
GROWS FROM
σπλάγχνον
splagchnon
Inward organs; by extension, the seat of deep affection and compassion.
“bowels” in this verse is splagchnois. The Greek word names the inward parts and, through them, the place where tender feeling rises. Its word family connects that inward depth with being moved by compassion, so the verse describes love as something felt from within and reaching outward.
ALSO GROWS
splagchnizomai: To be moved with compassion.
σπλαγχνίζομαι
This verb shows the same inward compassion becoming active toward another.
eusplagchnos: Tenderhearted, compassionate.
εὔσπλαγχνος
This related word carries the same deep-hearted quality into the way one regards another.
THE PATTERN
Deep compassion rises from the inward self and moves outward as longing, welcome, and mercy.
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;THE THREAD
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.“Had compassion” translates σπλαγχνίζομαι (splagchnizomai, to be moved with compassion), from the same word family as “bowels” here. The inward compassion named in Philippians becomes visible as a movement toward embrace.
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