What Does Luke 23:9 Mean?
Then he questioned him with many words, but he answered him nothing.
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
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.THE KEY
Herod keeps questioning, but his many words do not compel even one answer.
THE MEANING
The verse holds the reader inside an asymmetry: the questions accumulate, but no answer comes. The pressure to explain does not erase the reality of Jesus’ silence.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that enough questions can compel an answer.
THE ROOT
ἀπεκρίνατο
apekrinato
GROWS FROM
κρίνω
krinō
To distinguish, decide, or judge.
The verb means “answered” and belongs to the κρίνω (krinō, distinguish or decide) word family, which also names judging. That makes the silence striking: Jesus gives no spoken position in the exchange.
ALSO GROWS
krisis: Judgment or decision.
κρίσις
This branch shows the family’s connection to making a judgment, close to the idea of taking a position.
anakrinō: Examine or investigate.
ἀνακρίνω
This related verb links the family to examination, echoing the interrogating pressure in the scene.
λόγοις
logois
GROWS FROM
λόγος
logos
A word, saying, account, or reason.
English gives us a count, many words, but λόγος (logos, word or account) can also mean a reasoned account. That sharpens the contrast: words press around Jesus, yet no account is given.
ALSO GROWS
logion: A saying or message.
λόγιον
This branch shows that the word family can name a meaningful utterance, not merely sound.
logizomai: Reckon, consider, or account for.
λογίζομαι
Its connection with accounting makes the many words sound like pressure for an explanation.
THE PATTERN
A barrage of hostile words does not guarantee a spoken defense; Scripture repeatedly holds silence beside pressure.
But I, like a deaf man, do not hear, and I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.He was pressed, and he was bowed low, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter, and like a ewe before her shearers he was mute, so he did not open his mouth.But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.THE THREAD
Who, when he was insulted, hurled no insult back; when he suffered, he threatened not; but handed himself over to the one who judges by alignment.Luke’s ἀπεκρίνατο (apekrinato, answered) and Peter’s κρίνοντι (krinonti, judging) share the κρίνω (krinō, distinguish, decide, or judge) stem. Peter places the silence beside judgment entrusted to one who judges righteously: no answer is spoken, but judgment remains present.
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