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The Difference between Ye and You

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The Difference between Ye and You

Unlike some other languages, modern English employs the words "you" and "your" as both singular and plural forms of the second person pronoun. This can make the use of the pronoun "you" confusing. Is it singular, or is it plural? Modern English speakers often use clarifying phrases such as "you two," "you people," "all of you," or "you all" when they mean "you" in the plural rather than the singular.

Both the Hebrew of the Old Testament and the Koine Greek of the New Testament maintain the distinction between the singular and plural forms of "you" that have been lost in modern English. This presents a problem in modern English translations, whereas in Old English, the distinctions were clear.

The uses of "you", "ye", "thou", and "thee", in the King James Bible, are not arbitrary choices. They clarified meaning. 

  • "Thou" and "thee" are always singular. 
  • "You" and "ye" are always plural.

Most modern bible translations omit the words "ye", "thee", "thou", "thy" and "thine", but this has great importance for readers, as the Bible translators were aware that "thee", "thou", "thy" and "thine" were singular, while "ye", "you", and "your" speak in plural.

Let's look at the famous John 3:7, where Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again – John 3:7

Most modern Bible translations have amended the word "ye" to "you" giving the expression that Jesus is telling Nicodemus that only he must be born again. However, based on the plural usage in the original text, the KJV translators correctly used "Ye" in this particular scripture. So, while Jesus is speaking solely to Nicodemus using "thee", it is crucial to note that when He says "Ye", He is referring to ALL Jews, and thus more accurately saying that the whole nation of Israel must become saved! There is a huge difference in translation here if one understands the plural vs. singular context.

Similar distinctions are made in the Biblical Hebrew underlying our King James Old Testament. Consider,

Exodus 4:15 (KJV):  "And thou (2nd person singular, subject form) shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy (2nd-person singular,  possessive form) mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you (plural, object form) what ye (plural, subject form) shall do".

The King James Bible makes the above verse clear, that the LORD told Moses that he (Moses) was to speak to Aaron, and that He (the LORD) would then teach both of them (not just Moses) what they were to do.

Remember: Subject form is the person, place, or thing that performs the action. Object form is the person, place, or thing that receives the action.

The KJV does not confuse, like other translations. This is why I recommend the KJV.

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