What does the word "thy" mean, or represent, in the King James Version of the Bible?

Question

I am just wondering what the word "thy" means. I was think it means "the", but 'the" is mentiined in the Bible to.

I am referring to the King James version of the Bible.

So I am just wondering what it means, or who, or what it represents.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Answer 1

The word thy means your. Thou means you. Verily means truly. Suffer means allow. There are so many of these. If you learn what these basic words mean, then the King James Version is easier to read. The other translations become boring. Not that they mean any different. The word in the King James Version are more exciting.

Answer 2

The translators of the King James Version wanted everyone to know the exact meaning of the original words, so they made a way to be able to tell.

Singular words start with a "t" = thy, thine, thee, thou

Plural words start with a "y" = ye, you, your

You may notice that this is not always so clear in other more modern versions, as it is in the King James.

Answer 3

You know, I really hadn't given that any thought before. You are correct. Of course, all of the modern versions use the word "love." On the other hand, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the passages in the Bible that loses a little something in the modernization process

Answer 4

It means 'your' - it is the possessive form of thee (which means 'you'). Old and Middle English used to have two different forms of 'you.' One was formal and the other was informal. Many languages today still have this distinction (e.g. French, German, etc.), but English doesn't. The 'thee' and 'thy' were the informal ones. 'Ye' and 'Your' were the formal ones.

P.S. Morgan gave you a good list of related words, but 'thine' can also mean 'yours.' (For example: 'this book, it is thine'...you wouldn't say 'this book, it is thy.') Thine is also used instead of thy if the word following it starts with an h or a vowel. There used to be many more rules to English - as I already mentioned with the two forms of 'you' - and that's why it seems so redundant today. =)

Answer 5

Olde English word for the second pronoun [possessive case] of 'YOU'... i.e., YOUR or YOURS.

You = Thee; Thou
Your; Yours = Thy; Thine

The Authorized King James Version was essentially written in Shakesperean style when it was translated from the Latin Vulgate to English --and separately into German-- at that time.

Peace be with you!

Answer 6

"Thy" in the King James Version of the Bible actually means "Your". For example: "Honor Thy Mother and Thy Father" becomes "Honor your mother and your father"

Thou, also mentioned in the King James Version, is the one being addressed, YOU. Thine, thou, thy, thee: they all are different ways of saying you. You, Your, etc...

Answer 7

compare the king james version to the New world translation bible of Jehovah's Witnesses and you will understand things much better

Answer 8

Thy==Your

As in Thy Kingdom come; Your Kingdom come;

Just old English

Answer 9

Thy means your. For example: "thy word is a lamp unto my feet" means someone is talking to God and saying the Bible- His word lights up the person's steps- giving them light to see what to do. Thy can also mean your about a regular person: I wear thy vest and thou wearest mine. = I wear your vest and you wear mine.

Answer 10

In the context of "Love Thy Neighbor" it is the archaic form of "your" which refers to the ownership of something-as in thy horse or thy dog or as above thy neighbor.