Personal Pronouns - Thee, Thou, Ye, etc

Bible Versions Article - BV.0007

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1. As a 'reason' to use modern versions, many people complain about the King James' English, not realizing that their reasoning is unfounded - in all cases. One issue is the supposedly 'archaic' use of Thee, Thou, Ye, etc. But, the King James Bible is actually far superior to the modern versions by its use of these pronouns. The King James Bible uses 'biblical' English that is superior to anything published in modern 'bible' versions.

2. As can be seen in the table below, the modern versions' pronouns (in burgundy cell) are all identical, whereas the King James' pronouns (in gold cell) distinguish between the subject and object forms of the pronouns and also distinguish between the singular and plural use of those pronouns. The modern versions not only lose information by eliminating this distinction, but they change the meaning of the text, and thereby change doctrine too.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS (Information Lost in New Versions)
Subject Form		Object Form
I	I	Me	Me
You	Thou	You	Thee
He, She, It	He, She, It	Him, Her, It	Him, Her, It
We	We	Us	Us
You	Ye	You	You
They	They	Them	Them

3. Here are examples from scripture of just the basic, personal pronouns "Thou, Thee, Ye and You"

Thou is the subject form of the second person, personal pronoun, singular. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:.." (Gen 2:17)

Thee is the object form of the second person, personal pronoun, singular. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman..." (Gen 3:15)

Ye is the subject form of the second person, personal pronoun, plural. "...Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Gen 3:1)

You is the object form of the second person, personal pronoun, plural. "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed..."(Gen 1:29)

4. Personal pronouns beginning with "T" (specifically Thee, Thou, Thy, Thine) are SINGULAR. Those beginning with "Y" (specifically Ye, You, Your) are PLURAL. Consider the following passage from Luke chapter 22:

a. Notice the distinctions between the subjective and objective forms in verse 26?

b. Notice the subjective form, plural is used (and defined) in verse 28 ("Ye" is the same subjective, plural form as "They" - but second and third person, respectively)

c. Notice the objective forms used in verses 29 and 35, which are (grammatically and theologically) also plural

d. Use this understanding now to consider WHO it is that Satan wished to sift like wheat in verse 31?

e. And FOR WHOM did Jesus pray in verse 32?

23And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

35And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

5. These distinctions make BIG differences in the meaning of the passages. By simply watching for these pronouns as you read, you will be able to understand your bible (King James) with a completely different (clear) understanding, and will realize that by using ambiguous pronouns, the modern versions often fail to precisely identify the antecedents to which their pronouns refer.

6. God is NOT the author of confusion. Is he the author of the modern versions? What thinkest THOU?

Mike.