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The King James Bible was translated over 400 years ago, and its language can obscure meaning for modern readers. The Scripture Explainer decodes archaic KJV vocabulary, surfaces Joseph Smith Translation changes, and provides chapter summaries with key themes and key verses so you can study with clarity and confidence.
The Scripture Explainer is a study tool that makes the language of the King James Version accessible to modern readers. The KJV was published in 1611, and hundreds of its English words have shifted in meaning or fallen out of use entirely over the past four centuries. Words like 'suffer' (allow), 'charity' (Christlike love), 'peculiar' (specially chosen), and 'conversation' (conduct or way of life) meant something quite different in 1611 than they do today. The Scripture Explainer identifies these archaic Bible words and provides clear, modern English equivalents so you can read the KJV with accurate understanding.
Beyond individual word definitions, the Scripture Explainer integrates Joseph Smith Translation (JST) variants directly into your reading experience. The JST represents inspired corrections and clarifications that the Prophet Joseph Smith made to the biblical text under divine direction. When a verse has a JST variant, the Explainer surfaces it alongside the KJV text so you can see both readings without needing to flip to footnotes or a separate reference. This is especially valuable for passages where the JST adds significant doctrinal content not present in the King James rendering.
The tool also provides chapter-level summaries that give you a bird's-eye view of each chapter before you read verse by verse. Each summary includes a descriptive heading, a concise overview of the chapter's narrative or doctrinal content, a list of key themes, and the most important verses highlighted for focused study. Whether you are preparing a sacrament meeting talk, teaching a Sunday School lesson, or following the Come, Follow Me curriculum, these summaries help you quickly orient yourself within any chapter of scripture.
For Latter-day Saints who use the King James Version as their standard English Bible, the Scripture Explainer bridges the gap between Jacobean English and the language we speak today. It does not replace the KJV text -- it illuminates it. You still read the same verses that have anchored English-speaking Christianity for centuries, but now with a layer of understanding that prevents archaic vocabulary from becoming a barrier to comprehension. Combined with JST insights and chapter summaries, the Scripture Explainer transforms the way you engage with biblical text.
Navigate to any chapter in the scripture reader and activate Explain Mode. The tool highlights archaic KJV words and displays modern English equivalents inline as you read.
Joseph Smith Translation changes are surfaced alongside the KJV text where available. The chapter summary, key themes, and key verses appear at the top to orient your study.
Select any highlighted word to see its full KJV-era definition, its modern equivalent, usage examples from scripture, and the KJV Word Guide entry with additional context.
A comprehensive guide to archaic King James English vocabulary with modern equivalents, covering hundreds of words whose meanings have shifted since 1611.
JST changes displayed inline alongside the KJV text, showing the Prophet's inspired corrections and additions without requiring a separate reference.
Every chapter includes a summary overview, a list of key themes, and highlighted key verses to guide your study and help you quickly identify the most important content.
Archaic words are explained in place so you read the original KJV text with understanding, preserving the language of the King James Bible while removing the confusion.
The King James Version was translated in 1611, over 400 years ago. Many English words used in the KJV have changed meaning or fallen out of common use since then. For example, 'let' could mean 'prevent,' 'quick' meant 'alive,' 'by and by' meant 'immediately,' and 'conversation' referred to conduct rather than spoken dialogue. The Scripture Explainer identifies these archaic Bible words and provides their actual 1611-era meanings in modern English so you can read the KJV accurately.
The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) is a revision of the King James Bible made by the Prophet Joseph Smith between 1830 and 1844 under divine inspiration. It includes corrections, restorations, and clarifications to the biblical text. Some JST changes are minor wording adjustments, while others add entire passages not found in the KJV -- such as the extended Enoch narrative in the book of Moses. The Scripture Explainer surfaces JST variants inline so you can see both the KJV reading and the JST reading together.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the King James Version as its official English Bible because of its literary quality, its historical significance, and because the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants frequently quote from or allude to KJV language. The KJV's phrasing is deeply woven into Restoration scripture. The Scripture Explainer helps Latter-day Saints study the KJV more effectively by clarifying its archaic vocabulary without switching to a different translation.
Hundreds of English words in the King James Bible have shifted in meaning over the past four centuries. Some changes are subtle -- 'prevent' shifted from 'go before' to 'stop from happening.' Others are dramatic -- 'suffer the little children' means 'allow the children to come,' not that the children are in pain. The KJV Word Guide in the Scripture Explainer catalogs these words with their original KJV-era meanings and clear modern equivalents.
Yes. The Scripture Explainer is designed for exactly this kind of study. When you open a chapter assigned in the Come, Follow Me curriculum, the chapter summary gives you an immediate overview of the content, key themes tell you what doctrines are addressed, and key verses point you to the most important passages. As you read verse by verse, archaic words are explained and JST variants are displayed, so you can focus on understanding the message rather than puzzling over unfamiliar language.
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