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let to hinder, to hold back
The exact opposite of today's meaning, and the reason 2 Thessalonians 2:7 confuses everyone: "he who now letteth will let" means the one restraining will go on restraining. Romans 1:13 is the same — Paul was "let hitherto", meaning prevented. The King James also uses "let" in the ordinary modern sense of allow, far more often, so the surrounding sentence is what decides.
Means: to hinder, to hold backIn the KJV: 1514 timesStill in use, different meaning
Forms in the text
Where it appears
let appears 1514 times in the King James Version, mostly in the sense it still carries today. These are the places where it means to hinder, to hold back.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
Common questions
What does "let" mean in the Bible?
In the King James Version let means to hinder, to hold back. The exact opposite of today's meaning, and the reason 2 Thessalonians 2:7 confuses everyone: "he who now letteth will let" means the one restraining will go on restraining. Romans 1:13 is the same — Paul was "let hitherto", meaning prevented. The King James also uses "let" in the ordinary modern sense of allow, far more often, so the surrounding sentence is what decides.
How many times does "let" appear in the King James Version?
1514 times, counting its other forms (let 1511 times, letteth 3 times).
More like this
All 100 words → · Strong's concordance
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