Why the KJV Uses Words like “thee” & “thou” and Why It Matters
One of the most common complaints brought against the King James Bible is it’s supposed use of “archaic” English. Critics of the Authorized Version will constantly complain that it’s just too hard to understand, and will almost always point to it’s use of words like “thee” and “thou” and “ye” to demonstrate this point. What most people are not aware of, however, is that this is not archaic language being used. Rather, the KJV, like all other Reformation-era English translations, is using these words for the sake of accuracy in translation.
In Hebrew, Greek, and several other languages, they have distinct pronouns which serve the purpose of telling whether or not a single person, or multiple people, are being addressed. For instance, in Koine Greek, the pronoun σοι is used when addressing one person, while the word υμας is used when addressing multiple persons. In contemporary English, however, we have no such distinction. We only use the word “you”, and typically add a modifier like “guys” or “people” when addressing multiple persons. The KJV translators, along with every other English translation of the time, translated singular pronouns using the “Th-” words, i.e “Thee”, “Thou”, “Thy”,”Thine”, etc. while plural pronouns were translated using “You”, “Your”, “Ye”, etc. This is important because it ensures accuracy in translation. Modern versions have completely failed to compensate for the removal of this distinction, and confusion and misunderstanding can easily result when reading certain key passages. Here are a few clear examples.
Here is Exodus 16:22–30 in the ESV:
Exodus 16:22–30 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, (23) he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” (24) So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. (25) Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. (26) Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.” (27) On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. (28) And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? (29) See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” (30) So the people rested on the seventh day.
Notice the portion in bold — was angry at Moses for breaking the Sabbath? The text clearly says that the Lord “said to Moses, How long will you refust to keep my commandments and my laws?”, and yet the text says nothing about Moses doing such a thing. Now observe the same passage in the KJV:
Exodus 16:22–30 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. (23) And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD : bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (24) And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. (25) And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD : to day ye shall not find it in the field. (26) Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.
(27) And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. (28) And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (29) See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. (30) So the people rested on the seventh day.
The KJV offers more clarity in this text by translating it accurately — God was speaking to Moses, but not speaking about Moses. He was giving him the words to relay to the people and addressing them in the plural, hence the English translation “ye”. The modern versions, on the other hand, completely obscure the text by failing to accurately translate here.
Let’s look at another example:
Isaiah 7:10–16 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, (11) Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. (12) But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD . (13) And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? (14) Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (15) Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. (16) For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
This is a very important passage to consider, because we are here dealing with a Messianic prophecy. Many people mistakenly assume that this entire discourse spoken by the prophet Isaiah was only addressed to King Ahaz, when in reality this is not the case. Verses 10–12 shows Isaiah speaking to Ahaz, saying “Ask thee a sign…”; when Ahaz refuses, Isaiah then turns to the whole house of David in verses 13–15, and gives them a prophecy about the Messiah, saying “Hear ye now, O house of David” and “the Lord himself shall give you a sign” — then in verse 16, Isaiah goes back to addressing King Ahaz, saying that before the child who was then present with him, Shearjashub (cf. v. 3), would know to refuse the evil and choose the good, “the land which thou abhorrest shall be forsaken…”. When this passage is improperly translated, these interpretive points are very easy to miss.
Let’s take a look at a New Testament example:
ESV:
Luke 22:31–34 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (33) Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (34) Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
KJV:
Luke 22:31–34 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (33) And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (34) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Many Christians who have read this passage typically assume that Jesus was speaking exclusively to and about Peter. However, when properly translated, as in the KJV, we can see very clearly that this is not the case. Jesus tells Peter that Satan had desired to have not only Peter, but also his brethren - “Satan hath desired to have you, that he sift you as wheat”, but then goes on to say “Buut I have prayed for thee [Peter], that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren”.
When reading the ESV and other modern translations, however, one can easily misunderstand this text.
Contrary to proving the superiority of modern translations over the KJV, the issue of the “thees” and “thous” is actually a great demonstration of the KJV’s accuracy and faithfulness in translation from the original languages.
