Luke 14:31

Authorized King James Version

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
Or
disjunctive, or; comparative, than
#2
τίς
what
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
#3
βασιλεῖ
king
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
#4
πορευόμενος
going
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
#5
συμβαλεῖν
to make
to combine, i.e., (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute, (mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack
#6
ἑτέρῳ
another
(an-, the) other or different
#7
βασιλεῖ
king
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
#8
εἰς
against
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
#9
πόλεμον
war
warfare (literally or figuratively; a single encounter or a series)
#10
οὐχὶ
not
not indeed
#11
καθίσας
down
to seat down, i.e., set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell)
#12
πρῶτον
first
firstly (in time, place, order, or importance)
#13
βουλεύεται
and consulteth
to advise, i.e., (reflexively) deliberate, or (by implication) resolve
#14
εἰ
whether
if, whether, that, etc
#15
δυνατός
able
powerful or capable (literally or figuratively); neuter possible
#16
ἐστιν
he be
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
#17
ἐν
with
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc
#18
δέκα
ten
ten
#19
χιλιάδων
thousand
one thousand ("chiliad")
#20
ἀπαντῆσαι
to meet
to meet away, i.e., encounter
#21
τῷ
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
#22
μετὰ
with
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
#23
εἴκοσι
twenty
a score
#24
χιλιάδων
thousand
one thousand ("chiliad")
#25
ἐρχομένῳ
him that cometh
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#26
ἐπ'
against
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
#27
αὐτόν
him
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Analysis

This verse develops the salvation theme central to Luke. The concept of divine revelation reflects the development of salvation within biblical theology. The literary structure and word choice here contribute to biblical literature contributing to the canon's theological witness, advancing the author's theological argument. The original language emphasizes careful word choice that would have carried specific theological weight for the original audience, providing deeper understanding of the author's theological intention.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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