What Does Romans 15:21 Mean in the King James?
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
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 message reaches people with no prior report, and what is new to them becomes something they can perceive and understand.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to you now: what has never been announced within your hearing can come into view when the message reaches you, and what is new can gather into understanding. Its movement is from no prior report to perception, not from familiarity to confirmation.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that you must already know the message before you can understand it.
THE ROOT
συνήσουσιν
synēsousin
GROWS FROM
συνίημι (syniēmi), from σύν + ἵημι (syn + hiēmi)
To bring or put together; by extension, to comprehend.
“understand” in this verse is synēsousin. The word pictures understanding as pieces being brought together. What has not been heard before can still come together as understanding when the message reaches the person.
ALSO GROWS
sunesis: Comprehension or insight.
σύνεσις
It names the understanding formed by bringing things together.
synetos: Intelligent or able to understand.
συνετός
It describes someone whose perception joins the parts into meaning.
ἀκηκόασιν
akēkoasin
GROWS FROM
ἀκου-
akou-
To hear, listen, or receive what is said.
“heard” in this verse is akēkoasin. The verse names an absence of prior hearing before describing understanding. The same hearing-family can also mean a report, so the line traces movement from no received report toward comprehension.
ALSO GROWS
akoē: The act of hearing, or what is heard as a report.
ἀκοή
It shows how hearing can refer both to receiving words and to the report itself.
hypakouō: To listen attentively and respond.
ὑπακούω
It shows that hearing can extend beyond sound into a response.
ἀνηγγέλη
anēnggelē
GROWS FROM
ἀγγελ-
angel-
To carry or deliver a message; to announce.
“spoken of” in this verse is anēnggelē. The Greek says that no report about him has been announced to these people. The message-bearing root links the announcement to the messenger: the unfamiliar becomes visible as news is carried to them.
ALSO GROWS
angelos: One who carries a message.
ἄγγελος
It makes the act of announcing part of the verse’s movement.
euangelion: Good news or a favorable announcement.
εὐαγγέλιον
It shows the announcement-family at work in the word for good news.
THE PATTERN
The message crosses the boundary of prior knowledge and reaches people who have not received it.
So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.THE THREAD
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Both verses use the Greek hearing-family, ἀκου- (akou-, hear or listen). Romans 15:21 moves from people who have not heard to understanding; here, hearing is where trust begins to take shape.
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