Short KJV language word list

kjv-language.pdf

This is a 1-page introduction to the language of the Authorised Version which can serve as a quick introduction for new readers.

Particularly for second language speakers of English, it is helpful to explain the distinction between “Thou” and “You”, and the verb endings.

Click the image on the left to download.  Use as you please, modify, publish for profit, etc – it’s in the public domain.  It is not completely field-tested, so corrections are welcome. Here’s the source file for editing in LibreOffice kjv-language.odt should you need to change layout, content, etc.

Short KJV language word list

The Authorised Version of the Bible was translated into modern English from printed editions of the Hebrew and Greek received text. It was first published in 1611 with the authorisation of King James of England.  The KJV is the only English edition of the Bible authorised by a king, and is the original standard English Bible, undiluted by the world.

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.(Mark 13:31)

“You” Words

The word “you” is written in two ways in the KJV, either one of you (“thou), or many (“you”):

Thou, thee, thy/thine: (singular – one person)

  • Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:14 )

Ye, you, your: (plural – all of you)

  • I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (Romans 12:1)

Word Endings

* Verbs that apply to “Thou” generally end “-est” :

  • Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God. (John 16:30)

* Verbs for 2nd person singular (such as “he”, “she”, “the man”) ending in -eth” can be read as ending in “-s”:

  • These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)

(These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens)

Word list

  • abideth: lives, stays
  • abode: lived
  • afflicted: hurt
  • anointing: pouring oil
  • ark: box
  • array: arrange, clothing
  • ashamed: let down
  • asses: donkeys
  • astonied: bewildered
  • astonished: amazed
  • art: are (thou art)
  • Babylon: the city of the Chaldean empire
  • bands: bonds, groups
  • bare: carry
  • beast: animal
  • begat: fathered
  • beheld: saw
  • belly: stomach
  • beseech: beg
  • blemish: flaw
  • bondage: slavery
  • borne: carried
  • bowels: innards, inner man
  • brasen: made of brass
  • brethren: brothers, family
  • broad: wide
  • captain: army officer
  • carcase: carcass
  • carnal: of the body, flesh
  • cast: throw
  • cause: reason
  • cedar: cedar tree
  • chamber: room
  • chambers: rooms
  • charity: love, kindness
  • chief: first
  • circumcision: removal of foreskin
  • coast: region, country
  • cometh: comes
  • confound: confuse, bewilder
  • congregation: assembly
  • conversation: way of life
  • counsel: advice
  • countenance: face
  • court: courtyard
  • cunning: skill
  • damsel: girl, virgin
  • declared: said
  • deliver: free, hand over
  • depart: go away
  • didst: did
  • disciples: followers
  • divers: various
  • dominion: ruling
  • doth: does
  • dwell: live
  • dwelt: lived
  • enquired: asked advice
  • ephah: basket-full
  • even: such, including
  • evil: harm, damage
  • flesh: the body, meat
  • folly: foolishness
  • forasmuch as: since
  • former: things before
  • fornication: sex by unmarried people
  • forsake: abandon
  • fourscore: eighty
  • fowls: birds
  • gate: entry way
  • girdle: belt
  • giveth: gives
  • goeth: goes
  • goodly: fine, good
  • graven: carved stone, cast metal
  • guile: sly deception
  • habitation: home
  • harlot: prostitute
  • hast: has
  • heathen: foreigners
  • heed: attention
  • hence: from here
  • horsemen: riders
  • hosts: armies, soldiers
  • household: family and servants
  • howbeit: however
  • iniquity: being bad
  • isles: islands
  • issue: flowing out
  • Jews: from land of Judah
  • kindle: make fire
  • kindred: family and tribe
  • lay: put, set down
  • lest: in order to avoid
  • loins: private parts
  • lord: a ruler, “sir”
  • maid: girl, virgin
  • maketh: makes
  • meat: food, a meal
  • merry: happy
  • midst: among
  • mine: my
  • mingled: mixed
  • mischief: harm, trouble
  • multitude: crowd
  • notwithstanding: even so
  • oath: promise
  • oblation: offering
  • obtained: got
  • pass: go by
  • perish: be destroyed
  • pestilence: plague
  • princes: officials
  • psalm: song
  • raiment: clothing
  • redeem: buy back
  • regard: show respect
  • render: give, pay
  • rent: tore, tear
  • repent: change mind
  • round about: around
  • saith: says
  • sanctified: made holy
  • savour: taste
  • scribe: writing man
  • seed: offspring, children
  • seeth: he sees
  • sepulchre: grave
  • shall: must, really will
  • shalt: must, really will
  • shed: pour out
  • shekels: money
  • shew: show
  • shewed: showed
  • slain: killed
  • slaughter: killing
  • slew: killed
  • smite: hit
  • smitten: hit
  • smote: hit
  • snare: trap
  • sojourn: live temporarily
  • spake: spoke
  • spoiled: plundered
  • staves: wood beams
  • stayed: stayed, stopped
  • straightway: straight away
  • strait: narrow, confined
  • strife: fighting
  • suffer: allow, tolerate
  • swear: promise
  • tabernacle: tent
  • tarry: delay
  • thence: over there
  • therewith: with that
  • thou: you
  • thus: and so
  • thyself: yourself
  • thy: your
  • transgression: law breaking
  • trodden: trod upon
  • unclean: not clean
  • unleavened: no yeast
  • unto: to
  • upright: good
  • uttermost: furthest
  • vail: veil
  • valiant: brave
  • valour: bravery
  • verily: truly
  • vessels: containers
  • vows: promises, contracts
  • walked: lived
  • want: lack
  • wast: was
  • waxed: became, grew
  • whence: from where
  • whereas: seeing as
  • whereby: by which
  • wherefore: for this reason
  • wherein: in which
  • whereof: of which
  • whereon: on which
  • whereunto: unto which
  • wherewithal: with what
  • whither: where
  • whithersoever: to whereever
  • wholly: completely
  • whoredoms: fornications
  • whore: fornicating woman
  • whoremonger: fornicating man
  • whoso: whoever
  • wilt: will
  • wine: drink
  • wrath: violent anger
  • wroth: violently angry
  • ye: all you
  • yea: yes
  • yoke: animal harness

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

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