What Does Romans 10:8 Mean in the King James?
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
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 word is already close enough to live in your mouth and heart: what you can speak is not distant from what you trust.
THE MEANING
The word is near you now, present in your mouth and heart as the proclaimed word of trust. It is within reach of speech and inward reliance. Here, speaking and trusting meet around the same word.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that the word you need is distant or inaccessible, something you must reach beyond yourself to find.
THE ROOT
ῥῆμα
rhēma
GROWS FROM
ῥη-/ῥε- (rhē-/rhe-)
That which is said; a spoken utterance.
Rhēma names what is said, and beside “mouth” it makes the word’s nearness audible. It is not only an idea held at a distance; it is speech already close to expression.
ALSO GROWS
rheō: To speak or utter.
ῥέω
This verbal form shows the spoken action inside the word “utterance.”
rhēsis: Speech or utterance.
ῥῆσις
This related form makes explicit the connection between the word near the reader and speech.
πίστις
pistis
GROWS FROM
πειθ-
peith-
To persuade, be persuaded, or trust.
“faith” in this verse is pistis. Pistis carries the sense of trust: leaning your full weight on what is spoken. The word near you is not merely information to consider; it is something you can rely on.
ALSO GROWS
peithō: Persuade, convince, or win trust.
πείθω
This verb reveals the movement from hearing a word to being persuaded by it.
pisteuō: Trust, believe, or entrust oneself.
πιστεύω
This related verb shows trust as reliance placed in the word that is near.
pistos: Trustworthy or reliable.
πιστός
This adjective connects trust with the reliability of what is spoken.
THE PATTERN
The word is near when it is carried inwardly and brought to the mouth.
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.THE THREAD
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.The same sequence, word, nearness, mouth, and heart, appears here, using the Greek word rhēma in the corresponding Greek text. Its closing words, “that thou mayest do it,” show that this inward nearness also reaches into action.
This reading is from Selah Verse.
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