Easy Reading: The King James Bible

Posted on by doyouseehim_qt4s34

Easy Reading:

The King James Bible’s English

 

The King James Bible (KJV) uses Early Modern English (EME) language, which was common from around the 15th to 17th centuries. The words “ye,” “thee,” “thou,” and “thine” are examples of archaic second-person singular and plural pronouns. Here’s a breakdown:
In order to remember
Singular:
  • Thou (subjective): equivalent to “you” (e.g., “Thou art my friend.”)
  • Thee (objective): equivalent to “you” (e.g., “I love thee.”)
  • Thine (possessive): equivalent to “your” (e.g., “Thine eyes are beautiful.”)
  • Thy (possessive, adjective form): equivalent to “your” (e.g., “Thy voice is sweet.”)
Plural:
  • Ye (subjective): equivalent to “you” (e.g., “Ye are my friends.”)
  • You (objective): equivalent to “you” (e.g., “I love you.”)
  • Yours (possessive): equivalent to “your” (e.g., “Yours are the heavens.”)
Other archaic words and phrases in the KJV include:
  • Art (equivalent to “are”)
  • Doth (equivalent to “does”)
  • Hath (equivalent to “has”)
  • Sayest (equivalent to “say”)
  • Spake (equivalent to “spoke”)
  • Verily (equivalent to “truly” or “indeed”)

Understanding these archaic terms can enhance your reading and appreciation of the King James Bible.

 

Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine (Ye, You)

One way to remember the singular form from the plural form of “YOU”:

Pronouns with “Y” have two sticks at the top of the “Y” = they are plural: You, Ye.
Pronouns with “T” have one stick at the top of the “T” = they are singular: Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine

 

Here’s a more extensive list of archaic words and phrases from the King James Bible:
Pronouns:
  • Thou (singular, subjective: equivalent to “you”)
  • Thee (singular, objective: equivalent to “you”)
  • Thine (singular, possessive: equivalent to “your”)
  • Thy (singular, possessive adjective: equivalent to “your”)
  • Ye (plural, subjective: equivalent to “you”)
  • You (plural, objective: equivalent to “you”)
  • Yours (plural, possessive: equivalent to “your”)
  • Mine (singular, possessive: equivalent to “my”)
  • Thine own (singular, possessive: equivalent to “your own”)
  • Thyself (singular, reflexive: equivalent to “yourself”)
Verbs:
  • Art (equivalent to “are”)
  • Be (equivalent to “am” or “is”)
  • Doth (equivalent to “does”)
  • Hath (equivalent to “has”)
  • Have (equivalent to “have” or “had”)
  • Sayest (equivalent to “say”)
  • Spake (equivalent to “spoke”)
  • Wilt (equivalent to “will” or “would”)
  • Shall (equivalent to “will” or “must”)
  • Shouldst (equivalent to “should”)
  • Ought (equivalent to “should” or “must”)
  • Tarry (equivalent to “wait” or “stay”)
  • Abide (equivalent to “stay” or “remain”)
  • Beseech (equivalent to “ask” or “request”)
  • Intreat (equivalent to “ask” or “beg”)
Adverbs and Conjunctions:
  • Verily (equivalent to “truly” or “indeed”)
  • Forsooth (equivalent to “certainly” or “indeed”)
  • Whence (equivalent to “from where”)
  • Whither (equivalent to “to where”)
  • Howbeit (equivalent to “however” or “nevertheless”)
  • Notwithstanding (equivalent to “despite” or “however”)
  • Moreover (equivalent to “also” or “furthermore”)
  • Furthermore (equivalent to “in addition” or “also”)
  • For (equivalent to “because” or “since”)
  • Wherefore (equivalent to “why” or “for what reason”)
Miscellaneous:
  • Aught (equivalent to “anything” or “something”)
  • Behold (equivalent to “look” or “see”)
  • Lo (equivalent to “behold” or “look”)
  • Beholden (equivalent to “obliged” or “indebted”)
  • Fain (equivalent to “gladly” or “willingly”)
  • Peradventure (equivalent to “maybe” or “perhaps”)
  • Perchance (equivalent to “maybe” or “possibly”)
  • Selah (Hebrew term for “pause” or “rest”)
  • Thus (equivalent to “so” or “in this manner”)
  • Yea (equivalent to “yes” or “indeed”)
  • Nay (equivalent to “no”)
  • Wo (equivalent to “woe” or “sorrow”)
  • Alas (equivalent to “oh no” or “unfortunately”)
  • Marry (equivalent to “indeed” or “certainly”)
Phrases:
  • “Thou shalt not” (equivalent to “you must not” or “you shall not”)
  • “Thee shall” (equivalent to “you will” or “you shall”)
  • “To thee” (equivalent to “to you”)
  • “Of thee” (equivalent to “from you” or “about you”)
  • “For thy sake” (equivalent to “for your benefit” or “because of you”)
  • “In thee” (equivalent to “in you”)
  • “Through thee” (equivalent to “through you”)
  • “Unto thee” (equivalent to “to you”)
  • “With thee” (equivalent to “with you”)
  • “Against thee” (equivalent to “against you”)
Archaic Expressions:
  • “To take no thought” (equivalent to “do not worry”)
  • “To be in bondage” (equivalent to “be enslaved”)
  • “To be in debted” (equivalent to “owe a debt”)
  • “To make haste” (equivalent to “hurry”)
  • “To tarry long” (equivalent to “
Here’s a more extensive list of archaic expressions from the King James Bible:
Commands and Instructions:
  • “Take heed” (equivalent to “beware” or “be careful”)
  • “Heed my words” (equivalent to “listen to me”)
  • “Give ear” (equivalent to “listen”)
  • “Hearken” (equivalent to “listen carefully”)
  • “Take no thought” (equivalent to “do not worry”)
  • “Fear not” (equivalent to “do not be afraid”)
  • “Be not afraid” (equivalent to “do not fear”)
  • “Be still” (equivalent to “be quiet” or “remain calm”)
  • “Gird up thy loins” (equivalent to “prepare yourself”)
  • “Take thy journey” (equivalent to “begin your trip”)
Emotions and Reactions:
  • “My heart doth rejoice” (equivalent to “I am very happy”)
  • “My soul is troubled” (equivalent to “I am deeply disturbed”)
  • “I am weary” (equivalent to “I am exhausted”)
  • “My spirit is wounded” (equivalent to “I am deeply hurt”)
  • “Thou hast ravished my heart” (equivalent to “you have captivated my heart”)
  • “I am beset” (equivalent to “I am surrounded”)
  • “My soul is grieved” (equivalent to “I am deeply saddened”)
Relationships and Interactions:
  • “Thou art my neighbor” (equivalent to “you are my fellow human”)
  • “Thou hast dealt treacherously” (equivalent to “you have betrayed me”)
  • “I will make thee my confidant” (equivalent to “I will trust you”)
  • “Thou art my brother” (equivalent to “you are my fellow believer”)
  • “Thou hast entreated me ill” (equivalent to “you have treated me poorly”)
  • “I will be thy shield” (equivalent to “I will protect you”)
  • “Thou art mine inheritance” (equivalent to “you are my treasure”)
Actions and States:
  • “To take up the cross” (equivalent to “to accept a difficult challenge”)
  • “To be in bondage” (equivalent to “be enslaved”)
  • “To be in debt” (equivalent to “owe a debt”)
  • “To make haste” (equivalent to “hurry”)
  • “To tarry long” (equivalent to “stay for a long time”)
  • “To be steadfast” (equivalent to “remain firm”)
  • “To be upright” (equivalent to “be morally upright”)
  • “To be wholehearted” (equivalent to “be fully committed”)
Praises and Thanks:
  • “Blessed art thou” (equivalent to “you are blessed”)
  • “Praise ye the Lord” (equivalent to “praise God”)
  • “Thanks be unto God” (equivalent to “thank God”)
  • “I will magnify thee” (equivalent to “I will glorify you”)
  • “Thou art worthy” (equivalent to “you deserve praise”)
  • “I will extol thee” (equivalent to “I will highly praise you”)
Warnings and Lamentations:
  • “Woe unto thee” (equivalent to “sorrow will come upon you”)
  • “Alas, my people” (equivalent to “oh no, my people”)
  • “O how the mighty are fallen” (equivalent to “how tragic that great ones have fallen”)
  • “The wicked shall perish” (equivalent to “evil people will be destroyed”)
  • “Thou hast forsaken me” (equivalent to “you have abandoned me”)
  • “My people, what have I done unto thee?” (equivalent to “my people, how have I wronged you?”)
Biblical Idioms:
  • “To kick against the pricks” (equivalent to “resist or rebel against authority”)
  • “To have a stiff neck” (equivalent to “be stubborn”)
  • “To have eyes that see not” (equivalent to “be spiritually blind”)
  • “To have ears that hear not” (equivalent to “be spiritually deaf”)
  • “To be a stumbling block” (equivalent to “cause someone to sin”)
  • “To be a whitewashed tomb” (equivalent to “appear good outwardly but be corrupt inwardly”)
This list provides insight into the language, imagery, and expressions used in the King James Bible.
Source: meta.ai

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