The Use of “Thee” & “Thou”
It may be argued that if we do not use a Bible translation in modern speech and if our public prayers are not in modern speech, we shall give the impression to the unconverted that we are dealing with that which is unreal or outdated. In addressing persons the word “thou” was used in every-day speech to denote the singular and “ye” to denote the plural. Many years ago this practice ceased and “you” was adopted whether one person or more was being addressed. Some would contend that there is no reason for employing “old-fashioned language” in a Bible translation or in addressing God and that the use today of the word “you” would be consistent with the use in a former day of the word “thou”.
The Authorised Version and certain other translations have preserved by the use of “thou” and “ye” the distinction made in the original languages between singular and plural. It is true, of course, that the pronoun used in addressing God was the same as that used in addressing any one person. A modern translation abandoning the use of “thou” may rob us of significant differences between singular and plural forms. For example, the Lord Jesus said, “Have I been so long time with you (the disciples), and yet has thou (Philip) not known Me?” (John 14 v 9) Again the Lord said, “Satan hath desired to have you (the disciples). . . but I have prayed for thee (Simon).” (Luke 22 v 31 and 32)
For private study other good translations also have their value, but for public reading at gospel meetings we cannot do better than use the Authorised Version. An explanatory comment may be made where necessary. For example, in reading 1 Thessalonians 4 v 15 we would perhaps explain that “prevent” means “precede”. In the course of the years a few words in the Authorised Version have changed their meaning so far as popular usage is concerned, and a few words have dropped out of every-day speech. These facts do not justify us in regarding the general language of the Authorised Version as old-fashioned or archaic.
In a modern translation (the N.E.B.) it is recognised that the word “thou” is still intelligible and is more appropriate than “you” in addressing God, for in John 17, for example, the word “thou” is used in addressing the
Father. The same form of address should have been employed in this translation in respect of the Lord Jesus, for “all should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent Him.” (John 5 v 23)
Let us take advantage of the fact that in the word “thou” we have in English an intelligible word that by very reason of its uncommon usage has peculiar dignity. Take for example the words of 1 Chronicles 29 v 10 and II, ”Blessed be Thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as Head above all.” What dignified, reverent and awe-inspiring language is this! Read the same passage but substitute for “Thou” and “Thine”, “You” and “Yours” and the passage is belittled. Something of grandeur, dignity and reverence is lost.
Those who have been born again are God’s children and have the right to address Him as Father, but they should do so with reverence and humility. Language appropriate between equals or between fellow-humans is not appropriate in our addressing God. Let us, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit, select the most reverent words available to us May we summarise by saying:
(a) Let us take advantage of the fact that in “Thou” we have today an intelligible word appropriate in dignity for addressing God. (In a former day the word was so commonly used that the same dignity was not attached to it.)
(b) A commendable feature in a Bible translation, apart from other important considerations, is the use of “thou” for distinguishing between singular and plural and for guiding us in our use of appropriate language in addressing God.