Truth Way Life

Old Words in King James Version (KJV) of The Bible

In the King James Version of the Bible, which is a very old version from the early 17th century, there are many words that we don’t use much anymore. 

  1. Thou, thee, thy, thine – These are old ways of saying “you”, “to you”, “your”, and “yours” when talking to just one person.
  2. Ye – This is like saying “you all” when talking to a group of people.
  3. Art – This is an old way of saying “are” when talking to one person.
  4. Hath, hast – These are old ways of saying “has” and “have” for one person.
  5. Dost, doth – These mean “do” and “does” for one person.
  6. Whither, whence – These mean “where to” and “where from”.
  7. Verily – This means “truly” or “for sure”.
  8. Thither, hither – Means “to there” and “to here”.
  9. Wherefore – Means “why”.
  10. Fain – Means “gladly”.
  11. Wot, wotteth – Old ways of saying “know”.
  12. Beseech – Means “to beg” or “ask”.

Some passages from the Bible

  • Thou – “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.” (Luke 18:19)
  • Thee – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God…” (Isaiah 41:10)
  • Thy – “Honour thy father and thy mother…” (Exodus 20:12)
  • Thine – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33) (Note: “thine” can be used as “your” before a word starting with a vowel sound or h mute; here, it’s in the meaning of “yours”)
  • Ye – “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” (Matthew 5:14)
  • Art – “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble…” (Psalms 32:7)
  • Hath – “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15)
  • Hast – “Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God…” (Romans 14:22)
  • Dost – “And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.” (Matthew 12:11-12) (Note: “Dost” is not in the quoted portion but is an illustration of direct question structure in archaic form. “Dost” examples are typically “Dost thou…?”)
  • Doth – “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19) (Note: “doth not” is used in its negative form here.)
  • Whither – “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:4)
  • Whence – “Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:24-25)
  • Verily – “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
  • Thee, thou – Double mentioned but illustrated above as single pronouns.
  • Thither – “And thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king…” (2 Samuel 19:36)
  • Hither – “…Come hither, I pray thee; also Nahor’s daughter Milcah’s wife unto his son…” (Genesis 24:48)
  • Wherefore – “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)
  • Fain – “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat…” (Luke 15:16)
  • Wot – “Now I wot that the LORD is greater than all gods…” (Exodus 18:11)
  • Beseech – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1)

“Charity” vs. “Love”

  • KJV: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
  • Modern Translations: The word “charity” in contemporary usage primarily denotes giving to the needy, whereas the original Greek word “agape” encompasses a broader, unconditional form of love. Modern versions thus often translate “charity” as “love” to capture the full extent of Paul’s meaning, such as “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

“Thou” and “Ye”

  • KJV: “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)
  • Modern Translations: Some modern translations differentiate between “thou” (singular “you”) and “ye” (plural “you”) to clarify whether commandments or statements are addressed to individuals or groups. For contemporary English speakers, “You shall not murder” clarifies the commandment as a universal rule.

“Fear”

  • KJV: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10)
  • Modern Translations: The term “fear” can be interpreted in multiple ways in modern English, ranging from reverence to terror. Some contemporary translations might choose “reverence” or “awe” to describe the attitude towards God, seeking to clarify that it’s about respect and recognition of God’s power and majesty rather than terror or fright.

“Meat”

  • KJV: “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:29)
  • Modern Translations: The word “meat” in the KJV typically stands for food in general, not specifically animal flesh. Modern translations often use “food” to avoid confusion, especially considering contemporary distinctions between “meat” (animal flesh) and other forms of nourishment.

“Let” meaning to “hinder”

  • KJV: “I would therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.” (1 Timothy 5:14-16) In other contexts, “let” is used in an almost opposite sense of today’s usage, where it could mean to “restrain” or “hinder.”
  • Modern Translations: Modern readers often understand “let” as “allow” or “permit.” In cases where “let” is used in the KJV to mean “hinder,” contemporary translations must choose different wording to convey the intended sense, potentially leading to varied interpretations. This calls for careful selection of phrases that accurately reflect the original intent.

“Conversation” meaning behavior or way of life

  • KJV: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have…” (Hebrews 13:5)
  • Modern Translations: In today’s English, “conversation” typically refers to verbal communication between people. However, in the KJV, it often means one’s conduct or way of life. Modern translations might say, “Let your life be free from love of money,” to clarify that it refers to general conduct rather than merely spoken words.

“Prevent” meaning to go before or precede

  • KJV: “I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.” (Psalms 119:147)
  • Modern Translations: The common understanding of “prevent” now is to stop something from happening. In the KJV, however, it frequently means to “precede” or “go before.” Modern translations might use “I rose before dawn and cried for help; I have put my hope in your word,” to clarify the action being described.

“Suffer” meaning to allow or permit

  • KJV: “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not…” (Mark 10:14)
  • Modern Translations: Today, “suffer” is primarily understood as experiencing pain or hardship. The KJV uses it in the sense of allowing or permitting. A contemporary translation might be, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,” to provide clarity to the reader.

“Quick” meaning alive or living

  • KJV: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…” (Hebrews 4:12)
  • Modern Translations: The word “quick” in modern English usually means “fast.” In the context of the KJV, it often means “alive” or “living.” Modern translations might interpret this passage as “For the word of God is alive and powerful,” to align with contemporary language usage.

“Comprehend” meaning to overcome or grasp

  • KJV: “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5)
  • Modern Translations: In current usage, “comprehend” typically means to understand or grasp mentally. The KJV uses it in a way that can also mean “overcome” or “grasp physically.” Modern translations might choose “the darkness has not overcome it,” to reflect both the physical and metaphorical sense of battling against the light without understanding or accepting it.

“Reprove” meaning to criticize or accuse

  • KJV: “Open rebuke is better than secret love.” (Proverbs 27:5)
  • Modern Translations: The term “reprove” or “rebuke” can portend a softer nuance of correction rather than harsh criticism in contemporary English. For clarity, modern translations might frame this as “Better is open correction than hidden love,” focusing on the constructive nature of rebuke.