Why You Need To Understand KJV Personal Pronouns?

The King James Version of the Bible, translated in 1611, employs a pronoun system that differs significantly from modern English. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for proper interpretation of Scripture and recognising the precise meaning in each verse.

What Is A Pronoun?

Personal pronouns (such as I, you, ye, thou, thee) refer to a person or a group of people.

Why The KJV Pronouns Matter

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written Deut. 8:3, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Why The KJV Pronouns Matter

The English of our King James Bible (New Testament) is translated from Greek - which uses a more precise system of personal pronouns than we use in today's modern English;

💡The King James translators used the The Elizabethan Pronoun System to reflect the same pronoun distinctions that are used in the biblical Greek;

Understand why the Modern English Bibles that do not use The Elizabethan Pronoun System fail to achieve the precision of the King James Bible.

How Important Is This Distinction?

✅ (KJV) John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

❎ (NIV) John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

All KJV Pronouns Are Either Singular or Plural

All Pronouns Reflect A Point of View

In the KJV Bible, the second-person pronouns (referring to "you") have distinct forms that differentiate between singular and plural addressees, as well as between subject, object, and possessive cases.

This distinction, lost in modern English, provides greater precision in biblical interpretation.

Pronouns Have Subject and Object Forms

💡He (subject performs action) is teaching him (object receives action).

💡She (subject performs action) is feeding her (object receives action).

✅ 1 Peter 1:15 But as he which hath called you (object receives action: we have received the call of God) is holy, so be ye (subject performs action: we are called to act holy) holy in all manner of conversation;

✅ Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee (object receives action) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou (subject performs action) shalt bruise his heel.

Singular Pronouns (T-Forms)

💡The singular second-person pronouns begin with "T" and are used when addressing a single individual:

💡Thou - subject form (performs action)

Example:
✅ "Thou (subject performs action) hast a sword." (You have a sword)

✅ "And thou (subject perform action) shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth.."

💡Thee - object form (receives action)

Example:
✅ "The sword belongeth to thee (object receives action)." (The sword belongs to you)

✅ "Who gave thee (object receives action) this authority?" (Who gave you this authority)

Plural Pronouns (Y-Forms)

💡The plural second-person pronouns begin with "Y" and are used when addressing multiple individuals:

💡Ye - subject form (performs action)

Example:
✅ "Ye (subject performs action) have a kingdom."

✅ "If  ye (subject perform action) love me, keep my commandments."

💡You - object form (receives action)

Example:
✅ "The kingdom belongeth to you (object receives action)."

✅ "...and he shall give you (object receives action) another Comforter, that he may abide with you (object receives action) for ever".

Pronouns May Also Show Ownership (Possession) - My & Mine

💡"My" and "mine" are both used to show ownership (in the first person point of view).

The difference between these words is similar to the difference between how we use "a" and "an."

Write "an" before a word that begins with vowel, a, e, i, o, u.

💡Similarly, "mine" is generally used before a word that begins with a vowel.

💡Otherwise, "my" is used.

For example:
✅ Psalm 32:5 I acknowledged my (1st person possessive form) sin unto thee, and mine (1st person possessive form before a vowel) iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my (1st person possessive form) transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my (1st person possessive form) sin. Selah.

Pronouns May Also Show Ownership (Possession) - Thy & Thine

💡"Thy" and "thine" are both used to show ownership (in the second person point of view).

The difference between these words is similar to the difference between how we use "a" and "an."

Write "an" before a word that begins with vowel, a, e, i, o, u.

💡Similarly, "thine" is used before a word that begins with a vowel.

💡Otherwise, "thy" is used.

For example:
✅ Psalm 21:13 Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine (2nd person possessive form before a vowel) own strength: so will we sing and praise thy (2nd person possessive form) power.

Pronouns May Also Show Ownership (Possession) - Your & Yours

💡"Your" and "yours" are both used to show ownership (in the second person point of view).

Example:
✅ "It is your (2nd person possessive form) kingdom."

✅ "The kingdom is yours (2nd person possessive form)."

Elizabethan Personal Pronoun Chart

Practical Application In Scripture

The distinction between singular and plural forms in the KJV provides crucial interpretive clarity.

✅ Consider Exodus 4:15: "And thou (singular subject) shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy (singular possessive) mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you (plural object) what ye (plural subject) shall do."

In this verse, God addresses Moses individually with "thou" and "thy," but then shifts to "you" and "ye" when referring to both Moses and Aaron together. This nuance is lost in modern translations that use "you" for both singular and plural forms.

✅ Similarly, in John 14, Jesus moves from addressing Peter alone to addressing all His disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

The use of "your" (plural possessive) with "heart" (singular) indicates Jesus is addressing all disciples collectively as having one troubled heart, a subtlety lost in modern English translations.

The Value of KJV Pronoun Distinctions

These pronoun distinctions in the KJV provide several benefits:

1. Greater precision in identifying whether individuals or groups are being addressed
2. Clearer understanding of pronoun antecedents in complex passages
3. Insights into relationships between speakers and addressees in Scripture
4. Recognition of transitions when a speaker shifts from addressing one person to addressing many

Unlike modern English that uses "you" for both singular and plural in all cases, the KJV's precision with pronouns allows readers to discern exactly who is being addressed in each verse, providing deeper insight into God's Word.

The careful attention to these pronoun forms reflects the KJV translators' commitment to accuracy and precision in rendering God's Word into English, preserving distinctions present in the original languages.

Also see:

• Read & Understand KJV Bible English
• Understand KJV Bible Personal Verbs
• The Elizabethan Pronoun System