A Bible Reading Aid

Timothy Asquith of the Black Creek Baptist Church made this chart.

“eth” & “est”

Today’s topic is the “eth” and “est” endings to verbs (run vs runnest vs runneth) which are what make the Bible sound so archaic. You are going to find that it isn’t so much archaic as it is a well formed structure of language that helps your reading comprehension.

So, the question is, why the “eth” or “est”? To unravel this, we will need to take a step back and start with the basics. When writing or speaking there is what is called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person.

Examples:

• 1st Person (personal “I” “we”): “I stand in the rain”

• 2nd Person (direct communication “you”): “You stand in the rain”

• 3rd Person (someone else “he” “she” “They”, often titles): “He stands in the rain”

Focus on the verb “stand” in each of those example sentences. In 1st and 2nd person the verb has nothing added to it. But in the 3rd person an “s” is added, so that it reads “He stands in the rain” and not “He stand in the rain”. This is basic modern English and would sound wrong if the “s” wasn't added. The Bible follows the same pattern for 1st person as we do today. But for both the 2nd and 3rd person it uses something different.

Est & t

(2nd Person)

In the 2nd person, or when someone is being directly spoken to is when an “est” or “t” will be added to the end of a verb. In the Bible this will appear with the word “Thou”, showing you it is speaking directly which means 2nd person. With the ground work laid, here are some examples:

• Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness… Psalms 45:7

• …and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Proverbs 4:12

• …for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. Isaiah 38:7

• O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets… Mathew 23:37

• Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Acts 2:27

Eth & th

(3rd Person)

Now in the 3rd person, or when an individual is being spoken of rather than spoken directly to, an “eth” or “th” will be added to the end of a verb. Often this will appear with the words “he” or “she” or even a name/title such as “the prince” or “God”. With the ground work laid, here are some examples:

• For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Luke 7:5

• Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter… John 20:2

• He hath cast me into the mire… Job 30:19

• The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 1st Samuel 2:6

• So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth… Romans 9:16

Take your time as you read and try to recognize the “eth” and “est” verb endings. With time it will become natural for you and will take no extra thought.