| What do uncommon or unfamiliar King James Bible words and phrases mean TODAY? | |
| | The English used in the 1611 A.D. King James Version (KJV) Bible is somewhat different than today's modern English language. The meaning of certain words has changed. Some words, familiar to those in the 17th century, are unfamiliar to us in the 21st century. In addition, several Hebrew and Greek idioms and phrases (a modern English idiom is saying someone is "falling in love") are a little difficult to understand. Wide-margin KJV Bibles and various Bible commentaries can have helpful marginal references and notes which often explain the correct meanings of such passages. Here is a partial listing of words and phrases used in the King James Bible with their modern English meanings: KJV word or phrase | Modern Meaning | Bible References | | | | Abraham's bosom | Kingdom of God | Luke 16:22-23 | | | | | Adoption | Sonship | Romans 8:23, 9:4; Ephesians 1:5 | | | | | Affection | Mind | Colossians 3:2 | | | | | Affections | Passions | Galatians 5:24 | | | | | Afflict soul | Fast | Leviticus 23:27, 32 | | | | | Agone | Ago | 1Samuel 30:13 | | | | | Anon | Immediately | Matthew 13:20 | | | | | Apothecary | Perfumer | Exodus 37:29 | | | | | Assayed | Attempted | 1Samuel 17:39 | | | | | Beguile | Judge against you | Colossians 2:18 |
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| | | | | | | KJV word or phrase | Modern Meaning | Bible References | KJV word or phrase | Modern Meaning | Bible References | | | | Bestowed | Stationed | 1Kings 10:26 | Lusteth after | Earnestly Desires | Deuteronomy 14:26 | | | | | Betimes | Early | Proverbs 13:24 | Mammon | Riches | Matthew 6:24 | | | | | Blains | Blisters | Exodus 9:9 | Mansions | Offices | John 14:2 | | | | | Bonnets | Turbans | Exodus 28:40 | Meat | Wheat | Leviticus 2:1 | | | | | Borrow | Ask | Exodus 3:22 | Meat Offering | Meal Offering | Leviticus 23:13, etc. | | | | | Bosom | Have Intimate Relationship with | 2Samuel 12:3, 8; John 1:18 | Meet | Fitting, Proper | Matthew 3:8; Genesis 2:18 | | | | | Bruit | Report or Rumor | Jeremiah 10:22; Nahum 3:19 | Melt | Dismayed | 2Samuel 17:10 | | | | | Carriage | Baggage | 1Samuel 17:22 | Mocked | Deceived | Galatians 6:7 | | | | | Champaign | Plain | Deuteronomy 11:30 | Morning Stars | Angels | Job 38:7 | | | | | Charge | Imposts | 1Kings 11:28 | Mortify | To kill | Romans 8:13 | | | | | Charity | Spiritual Love | 1Corinthians 13 | Nether | Lower | Deuteronomy 24:6 | | | | | Clean Heart | Right Attitude | Psalm 51:10, 73:1 | Outlandish | Foreign | Nehemiah 13:26 | | | | | Coast | Districts | Deuteronomy 16:4 | Passion | Suffering | Acts 1:3 | | | | | Communicate | Share | Hebrews 13:16 | Pate | Crown | Psalm 7:16 | | | | | Communications | Associations, Companionships | 1Corinthians 15:33 | Pavilions | Booths | 1Kings 20:12 | | | | | Conversation | Conduct
(Citizenship in Philippians 3:20) | | Philippians 2:27; 1Peter 3:1 | Perfect | Upright or Sincere
(Spiritually Mature in 2Timothy 3:17) | | Genesis 17:1; Job 1:1 | | | | | Convince | Convict | Titus 1:9, James 2:9 | Perform | Finish | Philippians 1:6 | | | | | Corn | Grain | Leviticus 23:14; Deuteronomy 23:25 | Person | Substance | Hebrews 1:3 | | | | | Coulter | Spade | 1Samuel 13:20 | Pisseth against wall | Males | 2Kings 9:8, etc | | | | Covereth his feet (Cover his feet) | Going to the bathroom | Judges 3:24; 1Samuel 24:3 | Polls | One by One | Numbers 1:2 | | | | | Cracknels | Cakes | 1Kings 14:3 | Press, The | The Crowd | Luke 19:3 | | | | | Creature | Creation | Romans 8:20-21; 2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15 | Prevent | Receive
(Precede in Psalms 88:13, 1Thess. 4:15) | | Job 3:12 | | | | | Crisping pin | Purse | Isaiah 3:22 | Princes | Chief Officers | 1Kings 4:2 | | | | | Cross | Stake | Matthew 10:38; Mark 15:30; Luke 9:23, etc. | Prophesy | Inspired Preaching | 1Corinthians 14 | | | | | Cruse | Jug | 1Samuel 26:11 | Publicans | Tax Collector | Matthew 5:46 | | | | | Cursed | Reviled | 1Kings 2:8 | Quick | Living | Acts 10:42 | | | | | Damned | Judged | Mark 16:16 | Quicken | Make Alive | Romans 8:11 | | | | | Daysman | Umpire | Job 9:33 | Quit | Keep on | 1Corinthians 16:13 | | | | | Devils | Demons | 1Timothy 4:1 | Rain | Teach | Hosea 10:12; Isaiah 2:3 | | | | Do you to wit | Make known to you | 2Corinthians 8:1 | Rentest | Distort | Jeremiah 4:30 | | | | | Dissimulation | Hypocrisy | Galatians 2:13 | Requite | Offer Support for | 1Timothy 5:4 | | | | | Divers | Different Places, Persons or Things | Matthew 24:7; Acts 19:9; Hebrews 1:1; James 1:2 | Rereward | Rearward
(Rear Guard in 1Samuel 29:2) | | Joshua 6:9 | | | | | Dividing | Expounding, Dissecting | 2Timothy 2:15 | Rudiments | Elements | Colossians 2:8 | | | | | Doting | Sick | 1Timothy 6:4 | Sanctifieth | Expiate | Hebrews 2:11 | | | | Due Benevolence | Sexual Dues | 1Corinthians 7:3 | Secret parts | Private parts | 1Samuel 5:9 | | | | | Ear | Till | Isaiah 30:24 | Seethe | Boil | Exodus 34:26 | | | | | Ensamples | Examples, Types | 1Corinthians 10:11 | Servant | Slave | Philippians 2:7 | | | | | Eschewed | Avoided | Job 1:1 | Seven | Many | 1Samuel 2:5 | | | | | Faint | Give Up | Luke 18:1; Galatians 6:9 | Sheets | Shirts | Judges 14:13 | | | | | Foxes | Jackals | Judges 15:4 | Shoes | Sandals | Exodus 3:5 | | | | | Fray | Scare | Jeremiah 7:33 | Simple | Harmless | Romans 16:19 | | | | | Froward | Evil, Wrong | Proverbs 2:12 | Sincerity | With Incorruption | Ephesians 6:24 | | | | | Garnished | Set in order | Matthew 12:44 | Slept with his Fathers | Died | 2Kings 13:9, 2 Chronicles 16:12 | | | | | Gay | Expensive, Costly | James 2:3 | Sons of Belial | Worthless or evil men | 1Samuel 2:12 | | | | Ghost (Holy Ghost) | Holy Spirit | Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:15; John 1:33, etc. | Sons of God | Angels | Job 1:6 | | | | | Glass | Mirror | 1Corinthians 13:12, James 1:23 | Sore | Greatly | 1Samuel 17:24 | | | | | Habergeon | Coat of mail | Exodus 39:23 | Spiritual Wickedness | Wicked Spirits | Ephesians 6:12 | | | | | Hale | Drag | Luke 12:58 | Spoilers | Foragers | 1Samuel 13:17 | | | | | Haply | Perhaps | Mark 11:13 | Sprinkle | Astonish, Startle | Isaiah 52:15 | | | | | Hardness | Blindness | Mark 3:5 | Stranger | Newcomer, New Convert | Deuteronomy 14:29 | | | | | Harnessed | In ranks | Exodus 13:18 | Suffer | Let, Allow, Permit | Mark 10:14, Revelation 11:9 | | | | | Hasting | Desiring | 2Peter 3:12 | Taches | Clasps | Exodus 35:11 | | | | | Heart | Attitude of mind | Jeremiah 17:9 | Tale | Number | Exodus 5:8 | | | | | | | Hell | Means "lake of fire" in Matthew 5:22, 10:28, 18:9; Mark 9:43-48 Means "the grave" in Acts 2:27, Revelation 1:18, 20:13, etc. Means "the Abyss" or the deepest part of Hades (the grave) in 2Peter 2:4 | | | | | | | Holpen | Helped | Isaiah 31:3 | Tarry | Wait | Luke 24:49; 1Corinthians 16:8 | | | | | Hosen | Upper Garments | Daniel 3:21 | Tempted | Tried or Tested | 1Corinthians 10:13, James 1:13 | | | | | Host | Camp | Judges 7:10 | Tenor | Intent or Purpose | Exodus 34:27 | | | | | Husbandman | Farmer, Rancher | James 5:7 | Those who seemed to be somewhat | Boasters | Galatians 2:6 | | | | | Inn | Lodging Place | Exodus 4:24 | Tongues | Foreign Languages | Mark 16:17; 1Corinthians 14 | | | | | Iniquity | Lawlessness | Matthew 24:12 | Tower | Secret Place | 2Kings 5:24 | | | | | Jealous | Zealous | 2Corinthians 11:2 | Trow | Think | Luke 17:9 | | | | | Kick | Spurn | 1Samuel 2:29 | Unction | Anointing | 1John 2:20 | | | | | Kine | Heifers | Genesis 41:2 | Unworthily | Irreverently | 1Corinthians 11:29 | | | | | Knew | Had Sexual Relations with | Genesis 4:1 | Virtue | Power | Mark 5:30 | | | | | Knops | Knobs | 1Kings 6:18 | Visage | Appearance | Isaiah 52:14 | | | | | Laud | Celebrate | Romans 15:11 | Whit | Thing | 1Samuel 3:18 | | | | | Leasing | Falsehood or Lying | Psalm 4:2, 5:6 | Whoring | Astray | Exodus 34:15 | | | | | Let | Hinder | Exodus 5:4 | Wimples | Shawls | Isaiah 3:22 | | | | | Letteth | Restrains | 2Thessalonians 2:7 | Wist | Knew | Exodus 34:29 | | | | | Listed | Chose | John 3:8 | Wont | Used to, in the habit of | Exodus 21:29 | | | Source: Richard Nickels | | | | |
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