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Obsolete King James Bible Words



The following is a select listing of obsolete terms and their meanings in current terminology. A more complete list may be found in The Interpreter's Dictionary of The Bible published by Abingdon Press. The number of obsolete words is well over 1000, many of the words though obsolete in common language are still used in enough circles that their meaning is still easily enough understood. This list will only deal with words that are more likely to be misunderstood. For those who find themselves sucked into the King James only debate I would encourage you to read "The King James Only Controversy Can You Trust the Modern Translations?" by James R. White published by Bethany House.
 

Addicted

1 Cor. 16:15

Devoted

Advise thyself

1 Chr. 21:12

Decide

Affinity

1 Kings 3:1

Alliance

Allege

Acts 17:3

Prove

Anon

Matt. 13:20

Immediately

Armholes

Jer. 38:12

Armpits

Assuaged

Gen. 8:1

Subsided

Barbarian

1 Cor. 14:11

Foreigner

Botch

Deut. 28:27

Boils

Bowels

Phil. 1:8

Affection

Bruit

Jer. 10:22

Rumor

Carriage

1 Sam. 17:22

Baggage

Cast about

Jer. 41:14

Turn around

Chambering

Rom. 13:13

Debauchery

Chapman

2 Chr.9:14

Trader

Cieled

Ezek. 41: 16

Paneled

Clouted

Josh. 9:5

Patched

Clouts

Jer. 38:11

Rags

Compass

Josh. 6:3

March around

Compass, fetch a

Acts 28:13

Make a circuit

Concupiscence

1 Thess. 4:5

Lust

Confection 

Exod. 30:35

Incense blended

Confectionaries 

1 Sam. 8:13

Perfumers

Curious

Acts 19:19

Magical

Curiously 

Ps. 139:15

Intricately

Darling

Ps. 22:20

My life

Daysman

Job 9:33

Umpire

Degree

1 Tim. 3:13

Standing

Degrees

2 Kings 20:9

Steps

Delicacies

Rev. 18:3

Wantonness, luxury

Descry

Judg. 1:23

Spy out

Doctor

Luke 2:46

Teacher

Draught

Matt. 15:17

Sewer, latrine, privy

Draught house

2 Kings 10:27

Latrine

Dure

Matt. 13:21

Endure

Ear

1 Sam. 8:12

Plow

Eared

Deut. 21:4

Plowed

Emulation

Gal. 5:20

Jealousy 

Enlargement 

Esth. 4:14

Relief

Ensue

1 Pet. 3:11

Pursue

Exchanger

Matt 25:27

Banker

Fat

Joel 2:24

Vat

Fining pot

Prov. 17:3

Crucible

Flagons

Song of S. 2:5

Raisins

Flood

Josh. 24:3

River

Flux

Acts 28:8

Dysentery

Fray

Deut. 28:26

Frighten

Froward

Deut. 32:20

Perverse

Furniture

Gen. 31:34

Saddle

Gainsay

Luke 21:15

Contradict

Gender

Gal. 4:24

Bear children

Heavily

Ps. 35:14

In mourning

Heavy

1 Kings 20:43

Resentful

Herb

Gen. 1:29

Plant

Hough

Josh. 11:6 

Hamstring

Imagination

Deut. 29:19 

Stubbornness

Implead

Acts 19:38

Accuse

Impotent

Acts 14:8

Crippled

Jangling

1 Tim. 1:6

Vain discussion

Leasing

Ps. 5:6

Lies

Let

Isa. 43:13

Hinder

Light bread

Num. 21:5

Worthless food

In good liking

Job 39:4

Strong

worse liking

Dan. 1:10

In poorer condition

Lucre

1 Tim. 3:3

Gain

Lunatick

Matt. 4:24

Epileptic

Mansion 

John 14:2

Room

Mar

1 Sam. 6:5

Ravage

Meat

Gen. 1:29

Food

Murrian

Exod. 9:3

Plague

Neesing

Job 41:8

Sneezing

Nephew

Judg. 12:14

Grandson

Noisome

Ps. 91:3 

Deadly

Pap

Luke 11:27

Breast

Pastor

Jer. 23:1

Shepherd

A peculiar people

1 Pet. 2:9

God's own people

Peradventure

Gen. 24:5

Perhaps

Persecute

Ps. 71:11

Pursue

Pitiful

Jas. 5:11

Compassionate

Prick

Acts 26:14

Goad

Profane

Ezek.22:26

Common, ordinary

Publican

Mark 2:15

Tax collector

Pulse

Dan. 1:12

Vegetables

Purge

John 15:2

Prune

Purtenance

Exod. 12:9

Inner parts

Reins

Jer. 12:2

Heart

Reprobate 

Jer. 6:30

Refuse

Rid

Gen. 37:22

Rescue

Ringstraked 

Gen. 30:35

Striped

Road

1 Sam. 27:10 

Raid

Scall

Lev. 13:30

Itch

Scrip

Matt. 10:10

Bag

Settle

Ezek. 43:14

Ledge

Shambles

1 Cor. 10:25

Meat market

Shamefacedness

1 Tim. 2:9

Modesty

Simplicity 

Rom. 12:8

Liberality

Sleight

Eph. 4:14

Cunning

Slime 

Gen. 11:3 

Bitumen

Sod

Gen. 25:29

Boiled

Sodden

Exod. 12:9

Boiled

Sop

John 13:26

Morsel

Sore

Gen. 19:9

Hard

Sore 

Ps. 38:11

Plague

Sottish

Jer. 4:22

Stupid

Sped

Judg. 5:30

Succeeded

Speed

Gen. 24:12

Success

Strait

Job 36:16

Distress

Strait

Matt. 7:13

Narrow

Straitness 

Jer. 19:9

Distress

Streak

Gen.30:37

Streak

To supple

Ezek. 16:4

To cleanse

Surfeiting

Luke 1:63

Dissipation

Swellings 

2 Cor. 12:20

Conceit

Taber upon

Nah. 2:7

Beat

Table

Luke 1:68

Tablet

Tale

1 Sam. 18:27

Number

Target 

1 Sam. 17:6

Javelin

Tell

Gen. 15:5

Number

Tire

2 Kings 9:30

Adorn

Tire

Exek. 24:17

Turban

Translate

2 Sam 3:10

Transfer

Turtle

Song of S. 2:12

Turtledove

Twain

1 Sam. 18:21

A second time

Unction 

1 John 2:20

Anointing

Witty inventions

Prov. 8:12

Discretion

Compiled by Ron Corson 1999

 

 

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