Thee, Thou, Thy, Thine, Ye, and Shalt Thy Meaning in Bible (KJV) Explained 2026

Thy Meaning in Bible

In the Bible, “thee” is an old English word that simply means “you.” It is used when speaking directly to one person. This word appears frequently in the King James Version (KJV) because it was written in the English style of the early 1600s.

For example, in John 14:6, Jesus says:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In many verses, “thee” is used instead of the modern word “you.” Understanding this helps readers recognize that the message of Scripture remains the same even though the language is older.

Thee, Thou, Thy Meaning in Bible

The words thee, thou, and thy are archaic English pronouns found mainly in the King James Version of the Bible. They all refer to one person, but each has a different grammatical role.

• Thou = You (used as the subject of a sentence)
• Thee = You (used as the object of a sentence)
• Thy = Your (shows possession)

For example, in Matthew 22:37:

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

In modern English, this verse reads:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”

Learning these words can make reading the KJV much easier.

Thou, Thee, Thy, Thine Examples

Here are simple examples of these common biblical words and their modern English equivalents.

These words may sound unfamiliar today, but they simply reflect the English spoken when the King James Bible was translated.

Thy Meaning in Bible KJV

In the King James Version (KJV), “thee” means “you” when someone is speaking directly to one individual. It is the object form of “thou.”

One well-known example is Isaiah 41:10:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God…”

In modern English, this reads:

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

The meaning has not changed—only the style of English.

Thine Meaning in the Bible

“Thine” is an old English word meaning “yours” or sometimes “your.” It expresses ownership or possession.

One example appears in Psalm 31:15:

“My times are in thine hand.”

In modern English:

“My times are in your hands.”

Another familiar example is from the Lord’s Prayer:

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.”

Here, “thine” means “yours.” It acknowledges that everything belongs to God.

Ye Meaning in the Bible

The word “ye” is an old English pronoun meaning “you” when addressing more than one person. Unlike “thee” and “thou,” which refer to one individual, “ye” refers to a group.

For example, in Matthew 5:14:

“Ye are the light of the world.”

Modern English translates this as:

“You are the light of the world.”

Recognizing that “ye” is plural can help readers understand when biblical teachings are directed to a community rather than a single individual.

Shalt  Thy Meaning in Bible

“Shalt” is an old English verb meaning “shall” or “will.” In the Bible, it is commonly used in God’s commandments, promises, and instructions.

One of the best-known examples is Exodus 20:12:

“Honour thy father and thy mother.”

Another is Exodus 20:13:

“Thou shalt not kill.”

In modern English, this means:

“You shall not kill.”

The word “shalt” expresses certainty or command and is commonly found throughout the King James Version.

Thee and Thou in the Bible

The words “thee” and “thou” both mean “you,” but they are used differently in a sentence.

• Thou is the subject (the one performing the action).
• Thee is the object (the one receiving the action).

For example:

• Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.
• I will strengthen thee.

In modern English, both sentences simply use the word “you.”

These pronouns were standard English when the King James Version was translated in 1611. Although they are no longer used in everyday speech, understanding them makes reading the KJV much easier and allows readers to appreciate the language of this historic Bible translation.