Is the KJV Really Just Outdated English?

The marketing of newer bible versions has misled an entire generation of Christians into thinking that the King James Version is comprised entirely of an older style of English. Don't misunderstand me: There are some archaic words you'll come across here and there, and a dictionary can be of help here. But the repeated myth that we are addressing is that people once spoke that way all the time! While the refined English of the Bible does appear in the literature of the past (due to the prevailing influence of the Bible in society at the time), still, the same classic literature often used both Bible English and the English of today. In other words, the refined English was not the concrete way of speaking back then. We’re going to prove that in just a moment.

The Importance of the Thees and Thous

The thees and thous weren't merely an older style of English. It’s a more precise way of translating! In contemporary English, when someone says, “You teach,” it can actually refer to either one or more person doing the teaching. “You” is both singular and plural today. However, the word “you” in the KJV is never used when speaking to just one person. It is always plural. What’s more, the English of the KJV also uses different verb tenses to indicate how many people are being referred to (which corresponds to the varied inflected endings in each of the Greek tenses).

Example: “Teach”

• 1st person singular -  I teach
• 2nd person singular - thou teachest
• 3rd person singular -  he teacheth
• 1st person plural -  we teach
• 2nd person plural -  ye teach
• 3rd person plural - they teach

Question: Is it really that difficult to recognize the word “teach” in “teachest” or “teacheth”?

The Myth Debunked

Contrary to the anti-KJV propaganda, people did not always speak this way. One simple proof is in the very Dedication to King James found in the Cambridge editions of the KJV, which can be also accessed online. The opening sentence reads:

“Great and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent YOUR Majesty's Royal Person to rule and reign over us.”

Notice the translators didn’t use the typical KJV singular “THY,” but opted for the contemporary “YOUR.” The translators continue to use this contemporary form throughout the remainder of the dedication.

William Shakespeare lived during the era of the King James Version. Consider the following examples taken from the brief scene of Hamlet (Scene IV) in which Shakespeare repeatedly opted for our modern form of English rather than the KJV’s refined form of English.

• “And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down”—instead of “he draineth.”
• “Soil our addition; and, indeed, it takes”—rather than “it taketh.”
• “Look, my lord, it comes!”—rather than “it cometh.”
• “It beckons you to go away with it”—rather than “it beckoneth thee.”
• “It waves you to a more removed ground”—rather than “it waveth thee.”

In short, if they didn’t always utilize the Bible English in their more refined form of literature, then you can rest assured that people didn’t always speak like that in their common vernacular.

Cases in Point of the KJV’s Accuracy

Consider the following examples that demonstrate the KJV’s singular and plural pronoun distinctions. For all the talk of being “more accurate,” these details are missing from the newer versions.

1. The serpent said to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” Was the serpent telling Eve that she would not surely die, or was he referring to both Eve and Adam? If you use literal translation of the KJV, you know that Satan was alluding to Adam also. In this manner, Eve would more readily accept his proposal seeing that, “Ye shall not surely die.” The plural pronoun is used here.
2. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” The newer versions would convert this, “Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again.” So was Jesus telling Nicodemus that he needed to be born again, or was the Lord including all the Pharisees? While Jesus was speaking to one person (“thee”), his statement included others who also needed to be born again (“Ye”). The plural pronoun is used here.
3. Jesus said to the mother of Zebedee’s children, “What wilt thou?” The mother of James and John then requested that her two sons could sit on the right and left side of the Lord in his kingdom. “Jesus answered and said, Ye (plural) know not what ye ask.” Originally, Jesus asked the mother directly what she desired—What wilt thou? (singular). But Jesus knew it was the sons that put their mother up to asking Jesus the special favor. Notice that Jesus didn’t respond by saying, “Thou knowest not what thou dost ask”—as if he were still talking to the mother. Instead, the KJV uses the plural pronoun Ye. Such minor details are lost in the newer versions.
4. Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you [plural], that he may sift you [plural] as wheat: but I have prayed for thee [singular], that thy [singular] faith fail not: and when thou [singular] art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus told Peter that he was praying specially for him: I have prayed for thee (singular). But when Jesus told Peter that Satan had desired to have “you” and “sift you,” the Bible uses the plural pronouns here. In other words, Satan wasn’t merely after Peter. He wanted all the disciples. And the best way to reach them all was through the most influential member of the group: Peter. This is why Jesus particularly prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail.