Conclude
A Word with Multiple Meanings
In the King James Version, "conclude" translates several different original-language words, each carrying a distinct shade of meaning. Modern translations have largely replaced "conclude" with more precise terms, but studying the original KJV usage opens windows into significant biblical concepts about reasoning, judgment, and divine sovereignty.
Concluding by Faith: Romans 3:28
In Romans 3:28, the KJV reads, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Here "conclude" translates the Greek word "logizomai," which means to reckon, calculate, or consider. Modern translations render this as "we hold" or "we maintain." Paul is presenting the logical conclusion of his argument that both Jews and Gentiles stand guilty before God and can only be made right through faith in Christ. This is not merely an opinion but a carefully reasoned theological position built on the evidence Paul has presented throughout Romans 1-3.
Shut Up Under Sin: Romans 11:32 and Galatians 3:22
In Romans 11:32, the KJV states that "God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." Similarly, Galatians 3:22 reads, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin." In both cases, "conclude" translates the Greek word "sugkleio," which literally means "to shut up together" or "to enclose." Modern translations use "imprisoned," "confined," or "shut up" to capture this meaning.
This is a profoundly important theological concept. Paul argues that God has "shut up" all humanity under the condition of sin and disobedience — not to condemn them permanently, but so that grace and mercy could be extended to everyone equally. The imprisonment under sin was the necessary precondition for the universal offer of salvation through faith in Christ.
Assuredly Gathering: Acts 16:10
In Acts 16:10, the word "conclude" (in some KJV editions rendered as "assuredly gathering") translates "sumbibazo," meaning to bring together facts and draw an inference. After Paul received the vision of a man from Macedonia calling for help, the text says they "concluded" that God had called them to preach the gospel there. This was a process of discernment — taking the evidence of the vision and inferring God's direction from it.
Giving Judgment: Acts 21:25
In Acts 21:25, "concluded" translates a word related to official decision-making, referring to the decree issued by the Jerusalem council regarding Gentile believers. The council had "concluded" or decided what requirements should apply to non-Jewish converts (Acts 15:19-20).
The Richness of Biblical Language
The multiple meanings behind "conclude" in the KJV remind readers that translation always involves interpretation. Each original word carried specific connotations that a single English word cannot fully capture. Whether Paul is reasoning about justification, describing God's sovereign plan to bring mercy through judgment, or Luke is recording the apostles' process of discerning God's will, the underlying concepts are rich with theological meaning.
Biblical Context
The KJV uses "conclude" in Romans 3:28 (logical reckoning about justification), Romans 11:32 and Galatians 3:22 (God shutting all under sin for mercy), Acts 16:10 (inferring God's call to Macedonia), and Acts 21:25 (the Jerusalem council's decision). Each instance translates a different Greek word with distinct meaning.
Theological Significance
The varied uses of "conclude" touch on central doctrines: justification by faith apart from works (Romans 3:28), God's sovereign plan to bring mercy through the universal condition of sin (Romans 11:32), the role of Scripture in revealing human need for grace (Galatians 3:22), and the process of discerning God's will through evidence and community (Acts 16:10). These passages collectively affirm that God's purposes work through human limitation to accomplish universal redemption.
Historical Background
The KJV translators in 1611 used "conclude" in its broader early modern English sense, which encompassed meanings like "to shut up," "to determine," and "to infer" — all of which were current in 17th-century usage. As English evolved, "conclude" narrowed primarily to mean "to reach a logical end" or "to finish," making the KJV usage increasingly unfamiliar to modern readers. This is why modern translations use different words for each occurrence.