What Does Revelation 3:13 Mean in the King James?
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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
One ear is addressed across many assemblies: the breath’s message is shared, while hearing happens in each person.
THE MEANING
The breath speaks now to gathered communities, and its words reach the listener within them. Having an ear names the capacity to receive; “let him hear” makes that reception active. One utterance can address many assemblies without erasing the personal act of hearing.
THE ROOT
πνεῦμα
pneuma
GROWS FROM
πνέω
pneō
To blow or breathe.
The word translated “Spirit” is πνεῦμα (pneuma), formed from πνέω (pneō), “to blow or breathe.” Breath and wind remain within the word, so the verse’s living utterance is expressed in the language of breath.
ALSO GROWS
pnoē: Breath, blast of wind.
πνοή
This related word makes the movement of breath and wind audible in the word translated “Spirit.”
empneō: Breathe upon, inspire.
ἐμπνέω
This verb carries the same breath-bearing language, linking the utterance to breath given or moving.
ἀκουσάτω
akousatō
GROWS FROM
ἀκούω
akouō
To hear or listen.
The form ἀκουσάτω (akousatō) means “let him hear” and comes from ἀκούω (akouō), “to hear or listen.” Its word family extends from hearing itself to heeding, so the verse points to reception rather than sound merely reaching an ear.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: Hearing, or a report heard.
ἀκοή
This branch shows that hearing can name both the act of receiving and what reaches the listener.
hypakouō: Heed, obey.
ὑπακούω
This related verb shows hearing carried through into response, adding depth to the call to hear.
ἐκκλησίαις
ekklēsiais
GROWS FROM
καλέω
kaleō
To call or summon.
“churches” in this verse is ekklēsiais. The Greek word ἐκκλησίαις (ekklēsiais) names assemblies, not buildings. Its word family carries the language of calling and summons, while the plural shows that the same utterance reaches many gathered communities.
ALSO GROWS
ekklēsia: Assembly.
ἐκκλησία
This is the singular form of the word translated “churches,” keeping the focus on gathered people.
klēsis: Calling, invitation.
κλῆσις
This related word carries the language of calling that sits within the assembly word family.
THE PATTERN
The same voice can address a whole people, yet its utterance is received through an awakened ear.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:THE THREAD
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:The verb translated “hear” comes from ἀκούω (akouō), the same Greek word family as “let him hear” in Revelation. Here hearing is shown as personal reception of a voice, joining the shared address to the assemblies with the listener’s own encounter.
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