Difference between revisions of "List of misunderstood words in the King James Bible"

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(Created page with "This page is a list of words in the King James Version of the bible that will be misunderstood by a modern reader either because the word is no longer used in modern English o...")
 
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| fear, terror
 
| fear, terror
 
| 1 Pet 3:6
 
| 1 Pet 3:6
| Just like "amazing," people use this word when they're shocked in a good way.
+
| Just like "amazing," people pretty much only use this word when they're shocked in a positive way.
 +
|-
 +
| bowels
 +
| intestines; innermost area
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| metaphorical heart
 +
| Gen 43:30; 1 Kgs 3:26; Ps 109:18; Isa 16:11; 63:15; Jer 31:20; Lam 1:20; 2:11; Phlm 7, 12, 20
 +
| Where we might say, "I love you with all my heart," an ancient Hebrew might say, "I love you with all my bowels." People are less-frequently using "bowels" to refer to the innermost parts, so it's less likely a modern reader will think of the metaphorical heart instead of the intestines. This makes Song 5:4 seem especially funny, "my bowels were moved for him."
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|-
 +
| bowels
 +
| intestines; innermost area
 +
| compassion
 +
| Isa 63:15; Phil 1:8; 2:1; Col 3:12
 +
| Because it referred to the metaphorical heart, "bowels" also referred to compassion, which also doesn't fit with modern usage. To confuse things further, when modern English speakers talk about their metaphorical "gut" they mean their intuition rather than compassion.
 +
|-
 +
| bowels
 +
| intestines; innermost area
 +
| affection
 +
| 2 Cor 6:12
 +
| This passage is especially confusing because it reads, "straitened in your own bowels." "Straiten," often confused with "straighten," means to narrow, and a "narrowing of the bowels" is a common medical ailment.
 +
|-
 +
| bowels
 +
| intestines; innermost area
 +
| anguish
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| Jer 4:19
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| If you heard someone today cry, "My bowels, my bowels!" you probably wouldn't get the same meaning!
 
|-
 
|-
 
| sod
 
| sod
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! Passages
 
! Passages
 
! Notes
 
! Notes
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|-
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| bruit
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| noise
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| Jer 10:22; Nah 3:19
 +
| A secondary ancient definition is "rumor, hearsay," but neither is in common use anymore.
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|-
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| chode
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| simple past tense of "chide"
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| Gen 31:36; Num 20:3
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| Too similar to the vulgar slang "choad."
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|-
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| ephod
 +
| apron or breastplate in a uniform
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| Exo 25:7, 28:4; Lev 8:7; Num 34:23; Jdg 8:27; 1 Sa 2:18; 2 Sa 6:14; 1 Ch 15:27; Hos 3:4 (many more)
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|
 +
|-
 +
| murrain
 +
| plague, pestilence
 +
| Exo 9:3
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| A veterinarian might understand this word.
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|-
 +
| ouches
 +
| broaches or clasps
 +
| Exo 28:11, 13-14, 25, 39:6, 13, 16, 18
 +
| Sounds like it should be the plural of "ouch."
 
|-
 
|-
 
| pottage
 
| pottage
| a thick soup or stew
+
| a thick soup or stew.
 
| Gen 25:29-30, 34; 2 Ki 4:38-39; Hag 2:12
 
| Gen 25:29-30, 34; 2 Ki 4:38-39; Hag 2:12
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|
 +
|-
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| wroth
 +
| full of anger, wrathful
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| Gen 4:5-6; Exo 16:20; Jos 22:18; Psa 18:7; Mat 2:16; Rev 12:17 (many more)
 +
| Not entirely archaic, but rarely used anymore.
 
|}
 
|}
  

Revision as of 12:32, 20 February 2019

This page is a list of words in the King James Version of the bible that will be misunderstood by a modern reader either because the word is no longer used in modern English or because the word no longer means what it meant when the English translation was made in the 1600s. The purpose of this list is to combat those who believe the King James Version is the best translation by pointing out that, unless you're an ancient English scholar, you will misunderstand much of the bible.

Changed Meanings

Word Modern meaning Archaic meaning Passages Notes
accursed detestable, hateful devoted Josh 6:17-18; 7:1, 11–13, 15; 22:20; 1 Chr 2:7 Since this is practically the opposite meaning, it will be quite confusing.
addicted chemically dependent upon; overly obsessed with devoted 1 Cor 16:15 Fairly similar, although "addicted" usually has a negative connotation in modern English.
allow grant, permit approve of Luke 11:48; Rom 14:22; 1 Thess 2:4 In modern usage "allow" often means you will let something happen even if you don't approve of it, but here it specifically means approval.
allow grant, permit understand Rom 7:15 This is a substantially different use.
amazement wonder, surprise fear, terror 1 Pet 3:6 Just like "amazing," people pretty much only use this word when they're shocked in a positive way.
bowels intestines; innermost area metaphorical heart Gen 43:30; 1 Kgs 3:26; Ps 109:18; Isa 16:11; 63:15; Jer 31:20; Lam 1:20; 2:11; Phlm 7, 12, 20 Where we might say, "I love you with all my heart," an ancient Hebrew might say, "I love you with all my bowels." People are less-frequently using "bowels" to refer to the innermost parts, so it's less likely a modern reader will think of the metaphorical heart instead of the intestines. This makes Song 5:4 seem especially funny, "my bowels were moved for him."
bowels intestines; innermost area compassion Isa 63:15; Phil 1:8; 2:1; Col 3:12 Because it referred to the metaphorical heart, "bowels" also referred to compassion, which also doesn't fit with modern usage. To confuse things further, when modern English speakers talk about their metaphorical "gut" they mean their intuition rather than compassion.
bowels intestines; innermost area affection 2 Cor 6:12 This passage is especially confusing because it reads, "straitened in your own bowels." "Straiten," often confused with "straighten," means to narrow, and a "narrowing of the bowels" is a common medical ailment.
bowels intestines; innermost area anguish Jer 4:19 If you heard someone today cry, "My bowels, my bowels!" you probably wouldn't get the same meaning!
sod cut grass turf; contempt, disgust; sodomize boiled Gen 25:29 Totally different from modern use, although an Australian might at least connect it with cooking.

Many of the words in this list came from the Grateful to the Dead blog (Part 1, part 2, part3).

Dropped From Use

Word Archaic meaning Passages Notes
bruit noise Jer 10:22; Nah 3:19 A secondary ancient definition is "rumor, hearsay," but neither is in common use anymore.
chode simple past tense of "chide" Gen 31:36; Num 20:3 Too similar to the vulgar slang "choad."
ephod apron or breastplate in a uniform Exo 25:7, 28:4; Lev 8:7; Num 34:23; Jdg 8:27; 1 Sa 2:18; 2 Sa 6:14; 1 Ch 15:27; Hos 3:4 (many more)
murrain plague, pestilence Exo 9:3 A veterinarian might understand this word.
ouches broaches or clasps Exo 28:11, 13-14, 25, 39:6, 13, 16, 18 Sounds like it should be the plural of "ouch."
pottage a thick soup or stew. Gen 25:29-30, 34; 2 Ki 4:38-39; Hag 2:12
wroth full of anger, wrathful Gen 4:5-6; Exo 16:20; Jos 22:18; Psa 18:7; Mat 2:16; Rev 12:17 (many more) Not entirely archaic, but rarely used anymore.

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