What Does Luke 19:19 Mean?
And he said likewise to him, "You also, be over five cities."
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.THE KEY
The increase here takes the form of responsibility for whole communities, not private wealth.
THE MEANING
The verse presents growth as authority over the shared life of others. What is entrusted reaches beyond personal gain and touches the communities where people live.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that increase is only a reward to keep for yourself: here, it becomes responsibility for a community.
THE ROOT
πόλεων
poleōn
GROWS FROM
πολ-
pol-
City; a civic community.
“cities” in this verse is poleōn. The word is a form of πόλις (polis, city), related to πολίτης (politēs, citizen) and πολιτεία (politeia, citizenship or commonwealth). The assignment reaches beyond territory to the organized life of a community: the servant is entrusted with its people and shared affairs.
ALSO GROWS
politēs: Citizen
πολίτης
A city is made up of people who share its civic life, so authority over cities touches the lives of citizens.
politeia: Citizenship; commonwealth
πολιτεία
This branch brings out the public order and shared life carried by the word for city.
THE PATTERN
Trust faithfully handled in one sphere can become authority over a wider one.
And Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he served him; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he placed into his hand.The one who is steady in the least is steady also in much, and the one who is crooked in the least is crooked also in much.His lord said to him, Well done, good and steady servant. You have been steady over a few things; I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.THE THREAD
For he waited for the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.The Greek word for “city” here is πόλις (polis), the same word behind “cities” in this verse. Hebrews pictures a city as a founded and built dwelling, sharpening the appointment as stewardship over the ordered life of communities.
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