Small Changes 5

Those strange verb endings

Replace -est and -eth with -s?

Clear Connections

The King James Bible uses clear connections for verb endings -est and -eth

There are very sound and valid reasons that the King James version uses these specialised verb forms.

The strange suffixes of the Early Modern English

These verbs indicate they were personally assigned to their corresponding nouns and pronouns:

Here is a simple rule of grammar found in the King James Bible:

Verb Endings

If the verb ends in “EST or ST” then this verb is always linked to the second person pronoun

(never the first nor the third ONLY the second person)

If the verb ends in “ETH or TH” then this verb is always linked to the third person pronoun or a noun

(never the first nor the second ONLY the third person or thing)

This is a rule without exception

in the King James Bible

- est second person

- eth third person

Personal Pronouns

Here is another rule that is without exception in the King James Bible:

Did You Know This?

If a second person pronoun begins with a “T” it is always identifying one person.

If a second person pronoun begins with a “Y” it always identifies more than one person.

Removing Confusion

By the simple use of these four rules verbs and pronouns are tied together without confusion.

Clearer and Cleaner Than Modern English

This is much clearer and cleaner than modern English.

Contextual Understanding

Why not keep it simpleYou do not have to rely upon a sense of context to be able to tie nouns and these verbs together no matter how long or complex a sentence may be.

YOU

Modern term “YOU” IS DEFINITELY AMBIGUOUS

• – it could be one person, more than one person, the person doing the action or the person receiving the action.

• The grammar does not make the situation clear.

Learn This off by Heart

4 simple rules for pronouns and verb endings

T – always one

Y – always more than one

EST (ST) – always second person

ETH (TH) – always third person

The 1611 translatorsAt the time of the translators of the King James Bible they were happy to use these

particular different verb endings.

Epistle Dedicatory of the Translators

• A look at the Epistle Dedicatory shows this practice

• (apparently the translators were still using accurate verb endings in their general speech):

Look at This Example

“…but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is

above in heaven.”

Here is the actual paragraph

But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the preaching of God’s sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.

Notice the Verb Endings

• The verbs directeth and disposeth are not being used to flatter the king; if they were they would read directest and disposest (second person).

• The -eth is a third person indicator revealing that these verbs are assigned, in this case, to “God’s sacred Word.”

Don’t Make the Mistake of Modern Versions

It is wholly incorrect to replace these definitive verb endings with the suffix -s,

as some well-intentioned KJV “help” Bibles like to do.

Well intentioned or not

Changes such as these diminish the strength and accuracy of the words by severing the connections between the noun and its corresponding verb.

The Element of More Than One

In contemporary versions, the ambiguous -(s) also adds an element of plurality.

Here Is a Good Example of This

For example, how many innocent men should be murdered before the sentence of death is executed upon the murderer?

The KJV is clear: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” (Genesis 9:6).

The KJ V – murder one person

Murder one person and receive the sentence of the loss of your life.

One innocent man’s life is so valuable that the greatest price must be paid to respect the loss.

Use the Modern – S verb ending

But, by changing sheddeth to shed(s), an element of doubt is introduced. how

many people have to be murdered?

It Would Read like This

“Whoso sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed” – this suggests that more than one person has to be murdered by the murderer before the sentence is passed.

Example

NIV Genesis 9:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.

The Element of Confusion

Does this mean that only repeat offenders (sheds being plural) are punishable by death?

This is not clearer. This is confusing.

In our modern Appeals Court there could be a case for “Lurking Doubt” in the uncertainty of the situation.

If you could prove that only one murder was committed then the sentence could be overturned.

I think that it is interesting today that we have become so sanitised that we are really only shocked when someone has committed multiple murders. This is not surprising seeing modern philosophy views us as mere animals rather than created in the image of God

Even the popular television crime shows seem to major on the idea of a “serial killer” – why the term killer why not the term “serial murderer?”

What Do You Want?

Surely we want the word of God to be precise with conformity that we can trust.

Small Changes

These may only be small changes in the printed material but they surely make huge differences in understanding and revelation.Don’t let these small changes, that modern publishers of the Bible slip in, rob you of the richness and steadfastness of God’s pure and preserved word promised to be kept for all generations

Psalms 12:6-7

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

His word is a lamp to our path

Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Trust His Word

Let God be true and every man a liar• Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true,

but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

In the meantime let us read his word

Let us who are of the day walk in the light of the scriptures

Ready for His Coming

• Let us be ready for his coming because he will surely come when he is not expected

• Let’s keep rejoicing in the joy of “sins forgiven” and the power of an everlasting life

Let us uphold the name of Jesus