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-WARD
The suffix “-ward” means “in the direction of.” It appears in such words as “upward,” “downward,” “inward,” “outward,” “earthward,” “hea...
A, AN
The indefinite article “a” or “an” is one of the most frequently used words in the English language. In the KJV the archaic uses of “a” and “an” occur most familiarly in “a...
ABHOR
“Abhor” now means “to hate vehemently,” “to abominate,” “to regard with loathing or disgust.” Once it had the meanings derived from the Latin abhorreo, “to shrink ...
ABIDE
In contemporary language “abide” is most commonly used in the sense “to hold to,” “to remain true to,” “to abide by the rules,” and in the sense “to tolerate” (used i...
ABJECT
The word “abject” is currently used as an adjective to refer to a situation that is wretched or hopeless (“live in abject poverty”) or to a person who is considered worthless or contemptible (“an...
ABRAHAM'S BOSOM
“Abraham's bosom” is an archaic phrase that refers to the sleeping place of the blessed who are dead. It occurs in the KJV in the story of Lazarus and the rich man at
ABRAHAM'S BOSOM
“Abraham's bosom” is an archaic phrase that refers to the sleeping place of the blessed who are dead. It occurs in the KJV in the story of Lazarus and the rich man at
ABROAD
In modern English, “abroad” means “away from one's home” or “to or in foreign lands.” It was a popular word with Elizabethan writers, including Shakespeare, for broadly, widely, at large, o...
ACCEPT
In modern English, “accept” means “to take something offered,” “to agree or approve,” or “to recognize as true.” The KJV sometimes uses “accept” with the modern mean...
ACCEPTABLE
According to contemporary usage, “acceptable” has a range of meanings including “capable” or “likely to be accepted,” agreeable,” “well-pleasing,” “barely satisf...
ACQUAINT
In contemporary English “acquaint” means “to cause to know personally” (“I am acquainted with the Congressman”). In contrast, in the KJV “acquaint” was used in the obsolete se...
OLD ADAM
The expression “old Adam” is sometimes used to refer to “the unregenerate condition or character” (OED). The OED considers that this refers to the “ ‘ old man’ of St. Paul (
ADDICTED
The word “addicted” is now generally used of bad habits (“addicted to drugs and alcohol”). Shakespeare uses “addict” and its cognates similarly, always of trivial or less desirable habits...
ADMIRE, ADMIRATION
These words refer to liking and respecting someone or something very much. They were used in the seventeenth century simply to denote wonder or astonishment, without any implication of praise or approval. Thomas F...
ADMIRE, ADMIRATION
These words refer to liking and respecting someone or something very much. They were used in the seventeenth century simply to denote wonder or astonishment, without any implication of praise or approval. Thomas F...
ADMIRE, ADMIRATION
These words refer to liking and respecting someone or something very much. They were used in the seventeenth century simply to denote wonder or astonishment, without any implication of praise or approval. Thomas F...
ADVENTURE
“Adventure” is used as a noun today to refer to an undertaking involving excitement or risk. But from the fourteenth century and beyond it was used as a verb meaning “to venture,” “to expose t...
ADVERTISE
The marketing and promotion of products and services that is so much part of modern life is a far cry from the language of the KJV. “Advertise” appears twice in the KJV,
ADVICE, ADVISE
In contemporary English, “advice” is something that is given to help a person who is in difficulty, needs assistance, or needs to make a decision; “advise” is the verb meaning “to give ad...
ADVICE, ADVISE
In contemporary English, “advice” is something that is given to help a person who is in difficulty, needs assistance, or needs to make a decision; “advise” is the verb meaning “to give ad...
ADVICE, ADVISE
In contemporary English, “advice” is something that is given to help a person who is in difficulty, needs assistance, or needs to make a decision; “advise” is the verb meaning “to give ad...
ADVISEMENT
In formal contexts in modern English, if people take a matter under advisement they decide that the matter needs to be considered more carefully, especially by experts. In the KJV the word is used similarly. In
AFFECT
In modern English the verb “affect” means “have an influence on,” or “pretend that something is natural or real” (“to affect an interest”). From the fifteenth century, the verb ...
AFFECTION
The word “affection” refers today to feelings of fondness and love. From the thirteenth century, the word was applied to a mental state, and it is sometimes used in the KJV for those who are dishonorable. &ldqu...
AFFINITY
In current English “affinity” refers to a close relationship or likeness. But in the KJV it refers to a relationship by marriage, the sense derived from the Latin affinitas. “Solomon made affinity...
AFORE
This word is now archaic or used in English dialects to refer to prior time. It survives as a prefix in “aforesaid” and “aforementioned.” “Afore” appears seven times in the KJV. These are ge...
AFOREHAND
This archaic word for “beforehand” appears once in the KJV: “she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying” (Mark 14:8). Th...
AFORETIME
Now archaic, “aforetime” means “formerly,” “previously,” or “of old.” It appears seven times in the KJV, and is generally rendered in the contemporary versions as “befo...
AFTER
The KJV uses “after” in the established sense denoting a later time or following in place or order, but it also frequently uses “after” in the archaic sense of “according to,” “like,&r...
AGAINST
The word “against” means “opposite,” “on a background of.” In a few instances in the KJV its sense may not be easily understood. In “Take all the heads of the people, and hang them u...
AGONE
“Agone,” meaning “ago,” is an old form of the past participle of the verb “go,” similar to the Old English agan. As early as 1300 it was contracted to “ago,” and from Ca...
AGREE
In the KJV in the sense “to correspond,” “to be similar,” the verb “agree” is linked with “to.” “Thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto” (
AHA
This word is an interjection expressing joy, satisfaction, or triumph. This may be innocent, as in Isaiah 44:16, KJV, “he roasteth meat, and is satisfied &h...
ALARM
In modern English “alarm” is, firstly, a feeling of apprehension that something dangerous or unpleasant is about to happen and, secondly, an automatic device, e.g. a bell, that warns of danger. In the KJV, however,...
ALBEIT
“Albeit” is a formal or old-fashioned word which is used to mean “although” (“what redeemed the play, albeit somewhat belatedly, was the culmination of events in the final act”). It is an o...
ALIKE
If two or more things are alike, they are similar. The word is used in the KJV in this sense. In Ecclesiastes 11:6, the KJV has, “Whether they both shall ...
ALL
“All” is used in contemporary English to refer to the whole of something or every one of a group. As well as retaining this sense, the KJV also uses “all” in the sense of “any,” as in
ALL IS VANITY
See VANITY.
ALL THE DAYS OF ONE'S LIFE
See DAYS OF ONE'S LIFE.
ALL THINGS IN COMMON
See THINGS IN COMMON.
ALL TO
The KJV records that when Abimelech approached the door of the tower of Thebez to set it on fire, “a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull” (
ALLEGE
To “allege” now means “to claim” or “to assert,” especially without proof (“he is alleged to have collaborated with the company's competitors”), but in the sixteenth century it ...
ALLIED
If people or things are “allied” to others, they are joined in an alliance of kinship, marriage, or treaty or are associated with or linked in some way. The KJV uses the word in this way.
ALLOW
In contemporary English “allow” means “to permit.” But in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries this verb also had the meaning “to approve” or “to accept,” a meaning derived fr...
ALPHA AND OMEGA
The alpha and omega of something is its start and end, its first and last, including its most important aspects. The expression occurs four times in the KJV, in Revelation at
ALPHA AND OMEGA
The alpha and omega of something is its start and end, its first and last, including its most important aspects. The expression occurs four times in the KJV, in Revelation at
ALWAY
Originally spelled as two words (“all way”), this term was probably first used to refer to the space traversed, but was “already in the oldest Eng. transferred to an extent of time” (OED). “Alway&...
AMAZE
In contemporary English, to “amaze” is “to surprise greatly,” but from the thirteenth century onwards, to “amaze” was “to stun or stupefy,” as by a blow on the head, “to be...
AMBASSAGE
This is an archaic word for a group of people sent on a mission. In the KJV it appears in Luke 14:32. The same Greek word is used in
AMERCE
“Amerce” is an archaic word meaning “to punish by an arbitrary fine,” the amount of which is stated by a court. It derives from the Old French … à merci. Shakespeare has the angry ...
AMIABLE
Someone who is described today as “amiable” is friendly and pleasant. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, however, it was applied to things as well as to people. “They keep their churches so cleanly...
ANCIENT
“Ancient” is used in the Old Testament, as in literature generally, to refer to times long past and to the people who lived in those times. Generally the contemporary translations retain the KJV “ancient&rd...
AND, AND IF
“And” is now used as a coordinating conjunction. In a now obsolete use, “and” was a conditional conjunction; when so used “and” means “if”; it is sometimes strengthened by ...
DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER
ANGLE
As a noun, an “angle” in contemporary English is a V-shaped corner between two lines or surfaces that is measured in degrees. But in the KJV “angle” is used in the sense of “a fishhook,” a m...
ANON
In contemporary English, “anon” is used as an abbreviation of “anonymous” and also as an adverb to mean “soon,” “presently,” or “later.” In the KJV, “anon”...
ANOTHER
This word means “an additional one of the same sort” or “one that is different.” Two notable examples of the use of “another” in these distinct senses are
ANSWER
The expression “answered and said” or “answered, saying” appears frequently in the KJV. The OED says that it is archaic, and that it is “a Hellenism of the New Testament”; but it was a comm...
GO TO THE ANT, THOU SLUGGARD
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard” is sometimes used as a condemnation of laziness. The expression comes from Proverb...
ANY
With reference to people, the word “any” may refer to any one person or any number of people. In Acts 9:2, the KJV has “any of this way.” Al...
ANY THING
This term is used as an adverb in the KJV of Judges 11:25, “And now art thou any thing better than Balak?” The contemporary translations rende...
APOTHECARY
In contemporary English, this word refers to a person who prepares and sells drugs for medicinal purposes. In the KJV the word refers to a perfume maker and occurs six times:
APPARENTLY, EVIDENTLY
Originally these were strong words referring to sight. They meant “visibly,” “manifestly,” “clearly,” “plainly,” “distinctly.” But usage has changed t...
APPARENTLY, EVIDENTLY
Originally these were strong words referring to sight. They meant “visibly,” “manifestly,” “clearly,” “plainly,” “distinctly.” But usage has changed t...
APPLE OF ONE'S EYE
If one or something is the “apple of one's eye,” he or it is a very precious or treasured possession. The apple was a metaphor for the pupil of the eye, since both were round. The association of the ey...
APPLE OF ONE'S EYE
If one or something is the “apple of one's eye,” he or it is a very precious or treasured possession. The apple was a metaphor for the pupil of the eye, since both were round. The association of the ey...
APPOINT
In contemporary English, to appoint someone to a job is formally to choose that person for the post. It can also mean officially “to set or arrange,” e.g., a date. In the KJV, “appoint” is used as a t...
APPOINTMENT
An appointment today is the choice of a person to a particular job (“appointment to the post of professor”) or an arrangement to meet someone (“an appointment with your accountant”). In the KJV an...
APPREHEND
The word “apprehend” today means “to arrest a person in the name of the law” and “to understand.” In the KJV, “apprehend” is used in the senses of “to arrest someone&rd...
ARK
In contemporary English the word “ark” is used to refer to the large boat that God commanded Noah to build and to the ark of the covenant that symbolized the presence of the Lord. The KJV uses the word in both these ...
ARMAGEDDON
The name “Armageddon” is sometimes used today to refer to a vast and intensely destructive conflict, especially the final war between good and evil. In the KJV the word is found only at
ARMHOLE
In contemporary English an armhole is an opening for the arm in a garment. But from the fourteenth century, “armhole” meant “armpit.” It is used in that now obsolete sense in
ARTILLERY
The word “artillery” in modern usage refers to large, powerful guns, but from the fifteenth century the word was applied to any implements of war, e.g., bows and catapults. The OED cites a sixteenth-century dia...
AS
In contemporary English and in the KJV, “as” is used in phrases that express similarity or comparison. The KJV expression “like as,” meaning “like,” is generally translated “like” i...
AS CONCERNING
This is a somewhat awkward phrase for “with regard to.” In Leviticus 4:26 the KJV has “an atonement for him as concerning his sin,&rdquo...
AS YET
In contemporary English and in the KJV, “as yet” means “up to this time,” and implies the expectation or possibility of coming change. It is used in
DUST AND ASHES
The phrase “dust and ashes” occurs three times in the KJV to express the humility and insignificance of human beings. It occurs in Genesis 18:2...
GO ASIDE
This expression has a special meaning in the KJV rendering of Numbers 5:12, 20,
ASSAY
In modern technical English, “assay” is used as a noun to refer to a test of the chemical composition of a substance. In the KJV, however, “assay” occurs six times as a verb in the archaic sense of &ldq...
ASSWAGE
This is the old spelling of “assuage,” “to pacify,” “to quieten.” It appears in the KJV as an intransitive verb, in the obsolete sense of “to grow less,” “abate,” &...
ASTONIED, ASTONISHED, ASTONISHMENT
In contemporary English “astonish” means “to surprise greatly” (“I am always astonished by their insularity”). The KJV “astonied,” “astonished,...
ASTONIED, ASTONISHED, ASTONISHMENT
In contemporary English “astonish” means “to surprise greatly” (“I am always astonished by their insularity”). The KJV “astonied,” “astonished,...
ASTONIED, ASTONISHED, ASTONISHMENT
In contemporary English “astonish” means “to surprise greatly” (“I am always astonished by their insularity”). The KJV “astonied,” “astonished,...
ASTONIED, ASTONISHED, ASTONISHMENT
In contemporary English “astonish” means “to surprise greatly” (“I am always astonished by their insularity”). The KJV “astonied,” “astonished,...
JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER
When the Pharisees came to Jesus to test him on the matter of divorce, Jesus concluded, “Wherefore they [a husband and wife] are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joi...
AT
The preposition “at” is used in contemporary English and in the KJV to show the place where something happens. In the KJV, obsolete uses of the preposition “at” appear in
AT THE HANDS OF
See HAND .
AT THE LENGTH
“At the length” is an obsolete form of the phrase “at length,” which means “finally” or “in the end.” It is used in the KJV just once,
ATTENDANCE
In contemporary English “attendance” is the fact of being present (“regular attendance at church services”). “Attendance” in the KJV, however, also meant “attention.” To &ld...
ATTENT
This is an obsolete word, derived from the Latin attentus and the French attentif, meaning “attentive.” “Attent” is used by the KJV in King Solomon's prayer of dedication and the Lord...
AUDIENCE
In modern usage an audience is a group of people who are watching or listening to a play, film, etc. In the KJV, “audience,” however, refers to the act or state of hearing. The NASB, NIV, NKJV, NRSV, and RSV gen...
AVOID
In contemporary English, “avoid” is a transitive verb that means “to prevent” or “keep away from.” As well as uses in these senses, “avoid” is used once in the KJV as an intransi...
AWAY WITH
The expression “away with” can be used today as a slogan expressing disapproval (“away with old ideas and in with the new!”). In the KJV, however, in
AWAY WITH
The expression “away with” can be used today as a slogan expressing disapproval (“away with old ideas and in with the new!”). In the KJV, however, in
MOUTHS OF BABES AND SUCKLINGS
The comment “out of the mouths of babes and sucklings” is sometimes made when a young child or uneducated person utters a wise and perceptive remark which adults or supposedly wiser people h...
BABEL
In contemporary English a babel is a confusion of sounds or voices or a noisy or confused scene. The expression comes from the biblical tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9
BACKBITE, BACKBITING, BACKBITER
These are terms which, in contemporary language, have to do with gossip of a negative or bitter kind. They occur four times in the KJV, where the emphasis on deceit as an inherent element is more pron...
BACKBITE, BACKBITING, BACKBITER
These are terms which, in contemporary language, have to do with gossip of a negative or bitter kind. They occur four times in the KJV, where the emphasis on deceit as an inherent element is more pron...
BACKBITE, BACKBITING, BACKBITER
These are terms which, in contemporary language, have to do with gossip of a negative or bitter kind. They occur four times in the KJV, where the emphasis on deceit as an inherent element is more pron...
BACKBITE, BACKBITING, BACKBITER
These are terms which, in contemporary language, have to do with gossip of a negative or bitter kind. They occur four times in the KJV, where the emphasis on deceit as an inherent element is more pron...
BACKSLIDING
In contemporary English, to backslide means “to relapse into sin or error,” and in common usage can refer to any stage of such a relapse—from slackness in spiritual discipline to open apostasy.
Th...
BAKEMEATS
The chief baker, in his dream, was carrying on his head three cake baskets, in the uppermost of which were “all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh” (Ge...
WEIGHED IN THE BALANCE AND FOUND WANTING
If a person or thing has been “weighed in the balance and found wanting,” they are considered not to have met a particular standard in their behavior, efficient working, etc. The ...
BALM IN GILEAD
The expression “balm in Gilead” is sometimes used today to refer to something that is healing or soothing. It derives from Jeremiah 8:22, KJV...
BALM IN GILEAD
The expression “balm in Gilead” is sometimes used today to refer to something that is healing or soothing. It derives from Jeremiah 8:22, KJV...
BALTHAZAR
A balthazar is a large bottle equivalent to sixteen standard wine bottles, about twelve liters, named in allusion to King Belshazzar (the spelling adopted by the KJV and all the contemporary versions) of Babylon who gave a...
BAND
In the sense of that by which a person or thing is bound, the word “bond” occurs twenty-seven times in the KJV. Most versions, including the RSV and NRSV, retain in
BANQUET
A banquet is something to look forward to—and probably to dress up for. It is a lavish feast, usually prepared for honored guests in celebration of some special occasion such as a wedding or a meeting of heads of gover...
BARABBAS
It was the custom of the governor to release one prisoner chosen by the crowd at the Passover Feast (Matthew 27:15–26). Barabba...
BARBARIAN, BARBAROUS
The word “barbarian” has rather unfavorable connotations today; people speak of barbarous behavior when they mean behavior that is rude or uncivilized. In its original meaning, however, the term ...
BARBARIAN, BARBAROUS
The word “barbarian” has rather unfavorable connotations today; people speak of barbarous behavior when they mean behavior that is rude or uncivilized. In its original meaning, however, the term ...
BARBARIAN, BARBAROUS
The word “barbarian” has rather unfavorable connotations today; people speak of barbarous behavior when they mean behavior that is rude or uncivilized. In its original meaning, however, the term ...
BASE
This word has different meanings in different contexts. We hear it used in baseball (“first base”) and elsewhere to refer to a starting point or some sort of center of operations. It can mean an object's lowest poin...
MOSES BASKET
A portable, shallow, wickerwork cradle for a baby is sometimes known as a “Moses basket.” This expression alludes to the papyrus cradle into which the infant Moses was placed, among the reeds by the River Ni...
BE
The KJV frequently uses “be” with a plural subject, where modern usage would say “are.” An interesting passage is Genesis 4...
BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY
BEAM IN ONE'S OWN EYE
The “beam in one's own eye” is a serious fault in one's nature which one ignores while at the same time criticizing less important faults in other people. The expression derives from Jesus' saying i...
BEAM IN ONE'S OWN EYE
The “beam in one's own eye” is a serious fault in one's nature which one ignores while at the same time criticizing less important faults in other people. The expression derives from Jesus' saying i...
BEAR THE BURDEN AND HEAT OF THE DAY
The expression “bear the burden and heat of the day” means to perform the longest and hardest part of a task and is often used in a contrast with others' share in a task which is thoug...
BEAR THE BURDEN AND HEAT OF THE DAY
The expression “bear the burden and heat of the day” means to perform the longest and hardest part of a task and is often used in a contrast with others' share in a task which is thoug...
BEAST
In contemporary English “beast” is a word for “a wild animal,” although the word “animal” tends to be more commonly used. “Beast” also suggests a wild or unruly nature (“th...
BEAT SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
The expression “beat swords into plowshares” refers to changing one's implements of warfare into instruments of peace. The expression occurs in the KJV at
BEAT SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES
The expression “beat swords into plowshares” refers to changing one's implements of warfare into instruments of peace. The expression occurs in the KJV at
BECAUSE
This was originally a phrase, “by (bi, bie, be) cause,” often followed by of, why, or that. “Because of” is in common use today, meaning “for the reason that.” “Because that” o...
DAN TO BEERSHEBA
The expression “from Dan to Beersheba” is sometimes used to mean “from one end of the country to another.” The phrase refers to the most northerly city (Dan) and the most southerly town (Beer...
BEGGARLY
The adjective “beggarly” is currently used to refer to something, especially a sum of money, that is paltry or scant or to something extremely poor, as a beggar typically is.
In the KJV the word occurs onc...
BENEVOLENCE
This is a rich word which suggests kind intentions, generosity, and charitableness; a benevolent person is a person with a heart of gold. Today we might speak of a benevolent organization, or of someone having offered us...
BESOM
Archaic for “broom,” the word “besom” occurs once in the KJV, where the Lord says of Babylon, “I will sweep it with the besom of destruction” (
BESTEAD
“Bestead” is an archaic word which originally meant “placed” or “situated,” but which came to be used only in cases of difficulty, disadvantage, hostility, ill fortune, and the like. It th...
BESTOW
This is a word we most often hear in the context of gifts or awards. Institutions confer honorary titles and awards, or other recognitions of achievement, upon deserving individuals. Only a higher person or institution can &l...
BETHINK THEMSELVES
This word is an archaic expression occurring in 1 Kings 8:47 and in the parallel text
BETHINK THEMSELVES
This word is an archaic expression occurring in 1 Kings 8:47 and in the parallel text
BETIMES
This is archaic word. It was a common word in Elizabethan English, and meant “early,” “soon,” “in good time.” Shakespeare used it frequently, as in Macbeth (IV, 3, 162):
&ld...
BEWRAY
“Bewray” is an archaic word for “reveal” or “disclose.” It had almost the same range of meanings as “betray,” except that it lacked the connotation of treachery or disloyalty th...
CLOUD NO BIGGER THAN A MAN'S HAND
The expression “a cloud no bigger than (or: no bigger than the size of) a man's hand” is used to refer to a small sign of an impending significant event or change of circumstances. The p...
SELL HIS BIRTHRIGHT
The expression “Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage” alludes to the biblical account of Esau's sale of his birthright to his twin brother Jacob (
BLAIN
This word makes us think of blisters and ulcers, since we are familiar with the compound “chilblain.” “Blain” was indeed the old word for a blister or large pustule. It appears in the account of the pla...
BLASTED, BLASTING
When we read these words today, we imagine strong gusts of wind, or explosions which produce noise and turbulence of some kind. The KJV, however, uses “blasted” where today we would use the word “...
BLASTED, BLASTING
When we read these words today, we imagine strong gusts of wind, or explosions which produce noise and turbulence of some kind. The KJV, however, uses “blasted” where today we would use the word “...
BLASTED, BLASTING
When we read these words today, we imagine strong gusts of wind, or explosions which produce noise and turbulence of some kind. The KJV, however, uses “blasted” where today we would use the word “...
BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
The expression “the blind leading the blind” refers to inexperienced people who try to guide others who are similarly inexperienced, with the result that neither group is helped. The expression de...
BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
The expression “the blind leading the blind” refers to inexperienced people who try to guide others who are similarly inexperienced, with the result that neither group is helped. The expression de...
STUMBLING BLOCK
A stumbling block is, literally, a rock or other impediment that is in someone's way and against which if people strike their feet they will stumble or fall. It is in more common use figuratively, and is used to indi...
DESERT SHALL BLOSSOM
The expression “the desert shall blossom” is sometimes used today to refer to land reclamation—projects to render poor-quality soil into land suitable for agricultural purposes. It derives from...
BLOW UP
This term conjures up images of buildings flattened by explosives or fits of anger. In the KJV, the expression is a retention of the older usage of a redundant “up” or “out” with “blow.” &...
BLOW UP
This term conjures up images of buildings flattened by explosives or fits of anger. In the KJV, the expression is a retention of the older usage of a redundant “up” or “out” with “blow.” &...
BODY OF HEAVEN
When Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel saw the God of Israel, “there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearne...
BODY OF HEAVEN
When Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel saw the God of Israel, “there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearne...
BOLLED
“Bolled” is archaic. As a result of the hail which the Lord rained upon the land of Egypt, the flax and the barley were ruined, “for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled” (
BONE OF MY BONES
When God made a woman from the man's rib and God brought the woman to Adam, Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (...
BONE OF MY BONES
When God made a woman from the man's rib and God brought the woman to Adam, Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man” (...
BOOK
Today we think of a “book” as a bound copy of a printed manuscript, but the word was formerly applied to any written document of legal significance, and some traces of this usage remain in the Bible. At
BOOTIES
This is not a misspelling of the word for baby shoes, but are the articles carried away following the plunder of an enemy's goods. “Booties” is the plural, now obsolete, of “booty”; today we might ref...
BORN AGAIN
In contemporary English, the expression “born again” is used to describe an enthusiastic conversion to a particular cause or even simply to mean “renewed, new.” The origin of the expression is Jesu...
BORN AGAIN
In contemporary English, the expression “born again” is used to describe an enthusiastic conversion to a particular cause or even simply to mean “renewed, new.” The origin of the expression is Jesu...
ABRAHAM'S BOSOM
“Abraham's bosom” is an archaic phrase that refers to the sleeping place of the blessed who are dead. It occurs in the KJV in the story of Lazarus and the rich man at
BOSS
In the modern workplace, “boss” is a familiar term for someone in charge; “bossy” is a word for someone with an overbearing or dictatorial manner. But the word “boss” can also mean a knob or ...
BOTCH
When we see the word “botch” today, we are likely to think of something being ruined or made a mess of (“they made a botch of that job”). In fact, it is also an obsolete word for “boils” or ...
NEW WINE INTO OLD BOTTLES
The phrase “new wine into old bottles” derives from Matthew 9:17: “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the ...
BOTTOM
The word “bottom” has several meanings including “lowest part, side, or position,” “the buttocks,” and the part of a set of clothes for the lower part of the body. In the KJV the word is us...
BOTTOMLESS PIT
A “bottomless pit” is a hole or chasm that has or seems to have no end. The expression is sometimes used figuratively in contemporary English (“the amount of money in public funds is not a bottomless...
BOTTOMLESS PIT
A “bottomless pit” is a hole or chasm that has or seems to have no end. The expression is sometimes used figuratively in contemporary English (“the amount of money in public funds is not a bottomless...
BOW
As a verb, “bow” occurs often in the KJV and is usually used with the modern meaning of “bend” or “stoop.” “A bowing wall” (
BOWELS
This word has a specific anatomical definition today: the bowel is the part of the alimentary canal beneath the stomach. Occasionally the word is still used more loosely to refer to the inward parts, or to deep feelings: some...
BOWELS OF COMPASSION
The Greek word which the KJV translates by “bowels” does not refer to the intestines specifically but to the “inward parts” or internal organs generally. Like the Greek word for “he...
OLIVE BRANCH
In contemporary English an “olive branch” is a symbol of peace. To offer an olive branch to someone is to do something to show that you want to end a disagreement. The expression alludes to the olive branch ...
SOUNDING BRASS
The phrase “sounding brass” is sometimes used to refer to the noise produced from a brass musical instrument. The expression derives from 1 Cor...
BRAVERY
Today we use the word “bravery” of courage in the face of difficult or threatening circumstances. The word occurs once in the KJV, in Isaiah 3:18, w...
BRAY
The word “bray” conjures up the loud, harsh sound of a donkey's cry. In the KJV the word is used in this sense but also in the etymologically distinct and rarer sense of “crushing or grinding something to powd...
BREACH
As a noun, the word “breach” describes “a break” or “rupture.” While today we might think of a breakdown in a business contract, or a violation of a law or code, the KJV uses the term to me...
BREAD ALONE
Satan tempted Jesus after Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, saying, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (
BREAD ALONE
Satan tempted Jesus after Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, saying, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (
BREAK UP
This expression today implies severance or destruction: to break up a meeting is to effectively end it. The expression occurs nine times in the KJV, and it represents seven different Hebrew or Greek verbs. “Break up y...
BREAK UP
This expression today implies severance or destruction: to break up a meeting is to effectively end it. The expression occurs nine times in the KJV, and it represents seven different Hebrew or Greek verbs. “Break up y...
BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW
To “make bricks without straw” means to require work to be done without the proper materials or to be done under unreasonable conditions. The expression alludes to the time when Moses and Aaron asked...
BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW
To “make bricks without straw” means to require work to be done without the proper materials or to be done under unreasonable conditions. The expression alludes to the time when Moses and Aaron asked...
BRIGANDINE
This is a term for a coat of cloth or leather with rings or little plates sewed on to make it a lightweight coat of mail. It was invented in the Middle Ages to increase mobility, and was worn by “brigands,” wh...
BRIM
The word “brim” today suggests the edge of something hollow (“the volcano's brim”). The KJV uses it in this sense in 1 Ki...
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
The expression “fire and brimstone” refers to God's extreme judgment on sin. The expressions “fire and brimstone” and “brimstone and fire” occur several times in the KJV, first ...
BROKEN REED
A “broken reed” is a person or thing that is weak or likely to fail. The expression comes from Isaiah 36:6 (KJV), in which the prophet tells Hez...
BROKEN REED
A “broken reed” is a person or thing that is weak or likely to fail. The expression comes from Isaiah 36:6 (KJV), in which the prophet tells Hez...
BROTHER'S KEEPER
In contemporary English the phrase “brother's keeper” is used to mean one who accepts responsibility for another person's behavior or welfare. The phrase derives from Cain's reply, “Am I my brother...
BROTHER'S KEEPER
In contemporary English the phrase “brother's keeper” is used to mean one who accepts responsibility for another person's behavior or welfare. The phrase derives from Cain's reply, “Am I my brother...
SWEAT OF THY BROW
The expression “sweat of thy brow” is used to refer to wearisome toil that was a consequence of the fall. The expression derives from the KJV expression “the sweat of thy face” from
BRUIT
This is an archaic word which means “a report noised abroad,” “a rumor,” or “tidings.” “All that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee,” says Nahum in a prophecy ...
DROP IN THE BUCKET
The phrase “a drop in the bucket” (or “a drop in the ocean”) is used to refer to something very small compared with something considerably larger that is required. For example, a tiny grant...
BUCKLER
This word refers to a small, round shield with a knob or “boss” in the center, which is carried or strapped to the arm for use in hand-to-hand fighting. The Hebrew word magen denotes a buckler, and t...
BULLOCK
As used in the KJV, the word “bullock” means “a young bull.” The term is nowadays limited to bulls that have been castrated. Since the animals offered for sacrifice were required to be “without ...
BUNCH
We use the noun “bunch” today for a group of things (“a bunch of flowers”) or colloquially for a group of people (“a fine bunch of people”). But “bunch” is also an obsolete term ...
BEAR THE BURDEN AND HEAT OF THE DAY
The expression “bear the burden and heat of the day” means to perform the longest and hardest part of a task and is often used in a contrast with others' share in a task which is thoug...
BURN
This word leads us to imagine fire and its effects. Where it occurs in the KJV, however, this is not the meaning—although it is easy to see how Paul's thought, “It is better to marry than to burn,” could be mi...
HEAP BURNING COALS
The command “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap burning coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee” (
BURNT OFFERING
“Burnt offering” is sometimes used humorously to refer to a burnt meal. The phrase derives from the name of the Old Testament sacrifice of a bull, ram, or male bird to be burnt on an altar, as a gift to Go...
BURNT OFFERING
“Burnt offering” is sometimes used humorously to refer to a burnt meal. The phrase derives from the name of the Old Testament sacrifice of a bull, ram, or male bird to be burnt on an altar, as a gift to Go...
BURSTING
This word is used today of something's having reached its maximum holding capacity (“a suitcase bursting at the seams”). The word “burst” is used nine times in the KJV with this modern meaning; it is...
DEAD BURY THEIR DEAD
The phrase “let the dead bury their dead” means that “it is better to be concerned with the present and future than with the past.” The expression has its origins in
HIDE ONE'S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL
“To hide one's light under a bushel” means “to conceal or be too modest about one's abilities or talents.” The origin of the expression is Jesus' saying in the Sermon on the Mo...
BUSINESS
This word is used today of an enterprise of some sort (“the car business”), or to refer to affairs or matters with which someone is concerned. In the Old Testament the KJV uses the word in the same senses for wh...
BUT
We hear the word “but” today in connection with exceptions or excuses (“I would like to pay for our meal, but I've lost my wallet”). The KJV use of the word conforms to our modern-day usage. In
BY
The word “by” is a familiar preposition with a number of different meanings. To name just a few, we might use it in the sense of near to (“a house by the river”); or to refer to a route (“she came by...
BY AND BY
This is an adverbial phrase which meant “immediately” in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Like “anon” and “presently,” it gradually lost this sense and came to mean “soon,&rd...
BY COURSE
In its one occurrence in the KJV, “by course” means “in turn” (1 Corinthians 14:27). The KJV rendering of this verse is, “If...