The archaic pronoun “thou,” encountered frequently within older translations of the Bible, represents the second-person singular personal pronoun. It specifically denotes “you” when addressing one individual. An example can be found in the King James Version, where one might read, “Thou shalt not steal,” directly addressing a single person with the command. The grammatical form is nominative, indicating that “thou” serves as the subject of the sentence.
Understanding the use of this pronoun is crucial for interpreting scripture accurately, as it distinguishes between singular and plural address, a nuance often lost in modern English translations. The employment of “thou” provides insight into the personal and intimate nature of the communication within the biblical text. Historically, its usage reflected the social norms of the time, where different pronouns conveyed varying degrees of formality and respect. The disappearance of this distinction in contemporary language necessitates careful attention when engaging with older versions of the Bible to fully grasp the original meaning.
