What Does Titus 1:9 Mean in the King James?

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 1:9 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Healthy teaching can strengthen a person and expose contradiction because the word it holds is steady enough to do both.

THE MEANING

A steady word, received through teaching, grounds the capacity to encourage and to expose contradiction. Healthy teaching strengthens what is true while bringing resistance into view.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse dissolves the belief that encouragement and correction are opposites, or that care requires leaving contradiction unchallenged.

THE ROOT

ὑγιαινούσῃ

hygiainousē

GROWS FROM

ὑγιαίνω

hygiainō

To be healthy, sound, or in good condition.

English “sound” can seem like a verdict about correctness, while ⁨ὑγιαίνω⁩ (hygiainō, “be healthy, be sound”) also gives teaching the image of health. That image explains its double action here: it strengthens through exhortation and brings contradiction into view.

ALSO GROWS

hygiēs: Healthy, sound.

ὑγιής

This related word makes the health image explicit: the teaching is sound in a way that can sustain life.

hygieia: Health, good health.

ὑγίεια

The shared word family links sound teaching with health, clarifying why it can both build up and correct.

πιστοῦ

pistou

GROWS FROM

πιστ-

pist-

Reliable, steady, trustworthy; firm enough to be trusted.

The “faithful word” is also a steady, reliable word: something that can bear the weight of being held fast. Its word family links reliability with trust, joining the verse’s holding, teaching, and exhorting into one movement.

ALSO GROWS

pistis: Trust, confidence.

πίστις

Trust is the response to a word experienced as reliable and steady.

pisteuō: To trust, rely on, or entrust oneself.

πιστεύω

This related verb shows trust as relying on what is dependable, giving depth to the phrase “holding fast.”

THE PATTERN

A trustworthy word strengthens life while exposing what needs correction.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:7 · KJVThe LORD’s instruction restores the living soul and makes the inexperienced wise.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:6 · KJVA trustworthy word can wound through correction while remaining an act of fidelity.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:16 · KJVScripture serves both instruction and correction, holding the same paired work found in Titus.

THE THREAD

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Timothy 4:3 · KJV

Both verses use a form of ⁨ὑγιαίνω⁩ (hygiainō, “be healthy, be sound”) for teaching. Titus shows sound teaching strengthening and correcting; Timothy shows that this same health can be refused when people prefer teaching that suits their desires.

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