Matthew 14:29 Come.

Spoken to
an individual

Walking on water, summoning Peter

KJV
NIV
LISTENERS HEARD

Start!

MY TAKE

Starting a challenge is the hardest part.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page)
LOST IN TRANSLATION

This single word that is translated as "come" deserves an entire article. You can read it here. This word is addressed to Peter as he say he wants to walk on water, and, of course to us all when we want to do something that seems impossible. However, what is hidden is that it is not simply an invitation but something else entirely.The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start." It is in the form of a command, there "start!" It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but here it is clearly an order to start.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
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# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
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EACH WORD of KJV

Come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

EACH WORD of NIV

Come -- The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Ἐλθέ. (2nd sg aor imperat act) "Come" is from erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings

Seeing his student hesistate, the Master commanded, "Start!"

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