What Does Titus 2:1 Mean in the King James?

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 2:1 · 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.

THE KEY

The Greek word for “sound” carries health into teaching: what is taught is described as living and healthy, not merely correct.

THE MEANING

What fits healthy teaching is spoken now. The verse presents teaching as something living, with speech giving its health a voice.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that teaching is only a set of correct ideas, with no bearing on the life carried in speech.

THE ROOT

ὑγιαινούσῃ

hygiainousē

GROWS FROM

ὑγι-

hyg-

Health, soundness, being in good condition.

The Greek word rendered “sound” belongs to the language of health. It lets teaching be heard as something living that can carry health, rather than only as a body of ideas.

ALSO GROWS

hygiainō: to be healthy, to be sound

ὑγιαίνω

This is the verb behind “sound” here, describing health as a continuing condition.

hygiēs: healthy, sound

ὑγιής

This related adjective makes the health quality of the teaching explicit.

hygieia: health, soundness

ὑγίεια

This related noun names the condition the verse’s teaching language evokes.

THE PATTERN

Words and teaching are described by the health they carry or refuse.

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Proverbs 12:18 · KJVSpeech itself is pictured as capable of carrying either injury or health.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

1 Timothy 6:3 · KJVThe same health language describes both words and teaching.

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 · KJVRejecting sound teaching is framed as refusing what is healthy.

THE THREAD

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

1 Timothy 6:3 · KJV

“Wholesome” here comes from the same Greek health word family as “sound” in Titus. The shared root links the health of teaching with the health of the words that carry it.

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