Understanding The KJV

Origen

Origen

I think most of us know that the English of the KJV is at least somewhat different from the English we speak today. Some of the words in the KJV are now considered obsolete or archaic. I thought we might sift through some of these words (and idioms) and see how many we know.

I will provide a verse\passage and highlight a word or phrase. Anyone who knows (or think they know) the meaning of the word may post the answer.

Rules:
(1) You may read the larger context of the example in order to discern the meaning.
(2) You may check other contexts in the KJV which used the same English word.
(3) You may NOT use other translations or helps of any kind.


Example 1: Isaiah 14:23
"I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."


This first example I think is pretty easy. What is a "besom"? When this one is answered, I will post another.

Please remember this is just for fun.
 
Origen said:
Isaiah 14:23
"I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."
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Origen said:
What is a "besom"?
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Hello Origen,
This is a fun idea.

Although I read the KJV and enjoy chasing down the meanings of some of the archaic words and phrases I don’t remember this one.

However, I think we can infer by the context that a “besom” is a broom of some type.

God bless
 
blueskies said:
Hello Origen,
This is a fun idea.

Although I read the KJV and enjoy chasing down the meanings of some of the archaic words and phrases I don’t remember this one.

However, I think we can infer by the context that a “besom” is a broom of some type.

God bless
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Thank you and you are exactly right. The verb "sweep" is a dead giveaway.

Now let's stay with the same example from Isaiah 14:23.
"I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."

This one, I think, is a tough one. However, this word is not is not obsolete or archaic. What is a "bittern"?
 
Origen said:
Example 1: Isaiah 14:23
"I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts." This first example I think is pretty easy. What is a "besom"? When this one is answered, I will post another.
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Hello Origen;

Besom used in the KJV Isaiah 14:23 is like a cleansing or purifying.

Like a Besom Buddy. lol!
 
Bittern is a type of bird that lives in an estuary.
There is a street near me named Bittern place, which is beside the creek.

A besom is a broom.
 
Our next example comes from Numbers 31:33

"And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,..."

What are "beeves"?
 
Let me post the rules for those who may have missed them.

Rules:
(1) You may read the larger context of the example in order to discern the meaning.
(2) You may check other contexts in the KJV which used the same English word.
(3) You may NOT use other translations or helps of any kind.


Example 4: Deut. 22:7
"But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."

What is a "dam"?
 
Origen said:
Let me post the rules for those who may have missed them.

Rules:
(1) You may read the larger context of the example in order to discern the meaning.
(2) You may check other contexts in the KJV which used the same English word.
(3) You may NOT use other translations or helps of any kind.


Example 4: Deut. 22:7
"But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."

What is a "dam"?
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A female. In the context a female bird. More to do with agriculture law with the removal and safety of animals
 
Just reading the context it seems like a hen or female bird yes.
Although I don't quite understand - you can take the eggs but not the dam? (or hen?) if she's sitting on them? And why will things go well for you if you take the chicks?
 
Prim90 said:
A female. In the context a female bird. More to do with agriculture law with the removal and safety of animals
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You are on the right track, an animal mother. In this case it is a mother bird.

For example, in Exodus 22:30 it is a mother oxen and mother sheep.
"Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me."

Great job Prim90.
 
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Example 5: Nahum 3:6
"And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock."

What does the word "gazingstock" mean?
 
Origen said:
gazingstock
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"to look down upon," "despise sometimes i use other translations to get a better understanding other times i look up the meaning of the word. kjv makes have to search more to understand and usually stays with me.. but not always times i forget . still kjv makes me study more
 
forgiven61 said:
"to look down upon," "despise sometimes i use other translations to get a better understanding other times i look up the meaning of the word. kjv makes have to search more to understand and usually stays with me.. but not always times i forget . still kjv makes me study more
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Yes that the idea. He will make the person a "spectacle, an event or scene regarded in terms of its visual impact."
 
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