10 Dead Words in the Word of the Living God

As the term "Old English" suggests, the English language has changed significantly since the 17th century. Various words have changed, and in some cases even flipped meaning over time. "Bully" for example, used to be a very positive term of endearment, applied to a friend. The word now refers to an antagonistic figure.

Aside from changing meanings, some words simply fall out of use. My favorite has to be "quockerwodger", a long dead term for a type of string puppet. This was later used as a political jab, meaning a politician is controlled by someone else. In the modern day, the word is considered "extinct" (though I certainly hope it can be revived).

If a common word from the 19th century is no longer used in the 21st, it shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that words from the 17th century have similarly changed. The result is that the KJV uses many words which may cause confusion. Some have changed meaning, and even form, while others have completely died out. In this article, we're going to briefly look at 10 of these, then discuss the implications for the KJV.

1. Froward

Example verse: "For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous." - Proverbs 3:32

Meaning: As the context indicates, "froward" is a negative term. It refers to a perverse, or otherwise difficult person to deal with.

Modern equivalents: Perverse (NKJV), Devious (ESV)

2. Twain

Example verse: "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?" - Matthew 19:5

Meaning: Twain used to be another word for two. These days, its only real use is as Mark Twain's surname.

Modern equivalents: Two

3. Wot

Example verse: "But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;" - Genesis 39:8

Meaning: "Wot", or "wotteth" in this case, means "know". In this context, it can be figurative, hence why some translations say things like "my master does not concern himself".

Modern equivalents: Know (NKJV), concern (HCSB)

4. Concupiscence

Example verse: "Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:" - 1 Thessalonians 4:5

Meaning: This word, which I struggle to even pronounce, means strong desire, especially of a sinful nature.

Modern equivalents: Passion (ESV) Lustful desires (HCSB)

5. Closet

Example verse: "But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." - Matthew 6:6

Meaning: While "closet" now specifically means a storage compartment for clothes, it used to more broadly refer to a private room.

Modern equivalents: Chamber (YLT), Private Room (HCSB)

6. Let

Example verse: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." - 2 Thessalonians 2:7

Meaning: "Let" is an example of a word that has switched meaning. Historically, it meant to restrain or hold back. Now, it means to permit, or allow.

Modern equivalents: Hold back (NIV), Restrain (ESV)

7. Meat

Example verse: "Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?" (Mark 7:19).

Meaning: In the 17th century, "meat" was an all-encompassing term, with "flesh" being the disambiguation of what we now call "meat" (e.g. Romans 14:21).

Modern equivalents: Food

8. Ghost

Example verse: "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost." - John 1:33

Meaning: This one has major implications, as it may determine whether we understand the Holy Spirit as a spiritual being, or associate Him with horrific apparitions of a dead person, as is its modern use.

Modern equivalents: Spirit

9. Conversation

Example verse: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" - Philippians 1:27

Meaning: While "conversation" now applies to a two way verbal dialogue, it previously applied more broadly to one's conduct of life.

Modern equivalents: Manner of life (ESV), conduct (NIV)

10. Prevent

Example verse: "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word." - Psalm 119:147

Meaning: To "prevent" means to stop something from happening, but obviously the Psalmist isn't trying to stop the morning. Instead, he is "rising up".

Modern equivalents: Rise

Bonus: Evil

Example verse: "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things." - Isaiah 45:7

Meaning: Evil used too be a more broad category of harm or catastrophe. It did refer to moral wickedness, but didn't necessarily have to.

Modern equivalents: Calamity (ESV), disaster (HCSB)

Implications

As you can see from this short, curated list of just 10 examples, the KJV uses some very outdated language. I even opted to include a bonus 11th example specifically because it is commonly misunderstood by Christians and unbelievers, who see Isaiah 45:7 as, at best, confusing. How can God, in whom there is no darkness at all, "create evil"?

Of course, a KJVOnlyist could respond by suggesting a deeper study into the Old English, but logic dictates we can skip the rigmarole and just use one of the many reputable translations made for our own era. This is not an attack on the KJV, which was a good translation for its own era, and remains a popular translation today. Even today, there is nothing actually wrong with using it, if indeed you can.

But the original purpose of Bible translation is to enable those who do not speak the original languages to access the Bible in their own. This should be the goal for all time, no matter how much the English language evolves. When the language changes, the need for updated Bible translations increases. This is not out of hatred for what is an otherwise brilliant translation, but out of love for the word being translated. This should be accessible to all people, at all times, regardless of their ability to read older versions of a specific language. Therefore, KJVOnlyism is unsustainable.

AI usage

No AI was used to produce this article.