It is a common misconception that if a Bible version only removes words such as “thee”, “thou”, and other such words (“ye”, “thee”, “thy”, “thine”) from the King James Bible, that no real change has been made. However, if you possess a Bible version that changes only words such as “thee”, “thou”, “thy”, and “thine”, you have a Bible that is less accurate than the King James Bible.
A Look at John 4
The fourth chapter of the book of John is a popular passage to many Christians. In this chapter, Jesus the Jew meets a Samaritan woman at a well in Samaria. Much of this chapter is the conversation between them. In verses 16-18, Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman. Notice verses 16-18:
John 4:16-18 – “Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, THOU hast well said, I have no husband: For THOU hast had five husbands; and he whom THOU now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst THOU truly.”
You will notice that, in these verses, the word, “thou” is used. “Thou” simply means “you.”
A few verses later, it is still Jesus who is speaking to the Samaritan woman. Notice verse 22:
John 4:22 – “YE worship YE know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”
In this verse, the word, “ye” is used. “Ye,” like “thou,” also means “you.” So, “thou” means “you;” and “ye” means “you.” So, why did the translators use the word, “thou” in verses 16-18, where Jesus is speaking to the Samaritan woman; and then use the word, “ye” in verse 22, where Jesus is still speaking to the Samaritan woman? Is it because they merely used whichever word sounded neat? Absolutely not. There is a reason that “thou” is used in verses 16-18, and “ye” is used in verse 22. The reason is simple: “Thou” is singular while “ye” is plural. In modern English, there is no differentiation between a singular “you” and a plural “you.” One can only tell by the context whether the word, “you” is singular or plural. In King James English, however, they had separate words for “you (singular)” and “you (plural),” making King James English more accurate than the modern use of the word, “you.”
In verses 16-18, when the singular word “thou” is used, Jesus is referring simply to the woman and her alone.
In verse 22, Jesus still is speaking to the woman and to her alone. However, when He says, “YE worship YE know not what,” He is referring to a group to which this woman belonged. The plural form of “you” is used because Jesus is saying, “YOU SAMARITANS worship what YOU SAMARITANS do not know. WE JEWS know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”
So, when a Bible version takes out “thou” from verses 16-18; and takes out “ye” from verse 22; and replaces them both with “you,” their version is less accurate than the King James Bible because you wouldn’t be able to tell which “you” is singular and which is plural.
The Rule
There are several words in the King James Bible that mean “you,” “your,” and “yours.” I will call these “‘you’ words.” The general rule is stated as follows: When a “‘you’ word” begins with a “t,” such as “thou,” “thy,” “thine,” and “thee,” it is singular. When a “‘you’ word” begins with a “y,” such as “you,” “your,” and “yours,” it is plural.
Conclusion
It is clear that each of the “‘you’ words” have different functions. To replace each of these with the word “you” is to do an injustice to your Bible, making it less accurate than the King James Bible.
Proverbs 30:5 – “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
