What Does Luke 4:43 Mean?
And he said to them, I must bring the good news of the governance of God to the other cities also, for this I have been sent.
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 unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.THE KEY
God’s governance moves outward through the one who is sent to announce it.
THE MEANING
God’s governance is announced beyond the place where it first becomes audible; its reach includes other cities now. The sending gives this announcement direction, carrying it outward through the one who is sent.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
This undoes the belief that God’s governance belongs only to one city, sanctuary, or community.
THE ROOT
βασιλείαν
basileian
GROWS FROM
βασιλ-
basil-
kingship, royal rule
“governance of God” in this verse is basileian. βασιλεία (basileia) carries the sense of kingship and governance. Its family verb βασιλεύω (basileuō) means “to reign,” so the announcement carries God’s active rule outward into each city.
ALSO GROWS
basileus: king
βασιλεύς
The king is the source of the rule named by βασιλεία (basileia).
basileuō: reign, exercise kingly rule
βασιλεύω
This verb shows the kingdom as active governance reaching the other cities.
ἀπεστάλην
apestalēn
GROWS FROM
ἀποστέλλω
apostellō
send away, dispatch
The verb means being dispatched with purpose; its passive form presents the speaker as one who is sent. Its word family includes the sent messenger and the act of sending, so outward movement belongs to the word itself.
ALSO GROWS
apostolos: sent messenger
ἀπόστολος
The word names a person by the sending that gives their mission its direction.
apostolē: sending, commission
ἀποστολή
This noun makes explicit the commissioned movement contained in “I am sent.”
εὐαγγελίσασθαι
euangelisasthai
GROWS FROM
εὐαγγελίζομαι
euangelizomai
announce good news
“bring the good news” in this verse is euangelisasthai. The verb translated “preach” means to announce good news. Its related words name the good news itself and the one who announces it, making proclamation the means by which God’s governance reaches other cities.
ALSO GROWS
euangelion: good news
εὐαγγέλιον
The noun names the message being carried outward.
euangelistēs: announcer of good news
εὐαγγελιστής
This word names one who carries the proclamation to others.
THE PATTERN
A divine sending carries an announcement outward beyond the place where it begins.
The breath of the Lord LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the bowed ones; he has sent me to bind up the broken of heart, to proclaim flowing freedom to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are chained.Then Jesus said to them again, Wholeness be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.And how will they herald unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!THE THREAD
The breath of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the emptied. He has sent me to heal the shattered in heart, to herald release to the captives, and the return of sight for the blind, to send the crushed away into release.The same Greek sending verb appears when Jesus says he is sent to announce good news and bring release. Luke 4:43 names the other cities as the reach of that same sending.
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