The King James Bible is precise, beautiful, and timeless — but it uses words that modern children simply don't encounter elsewhere. That's not a flaw; it's an opportunity. Every unfamiliar word is a chance to teach something true and lasting about who God is.
These 25 words appear hundreds of times across the Old and New Testaments. A child who understands them has an enormous head start on the Bible's core message. They're also the kind of words that, once learned, tend to stick for life.
💡 How to Use This Guide
Read each definition aloud with your child. Look up the example verse together in LittleWord's interactive reader — where many of these words are highlighted and tap-to-define. Then ask: "Can you use this word in a sentence about God?"
All 25 Words at a Glance
The Core Theology Words (1–5)
These five words form the theological backbone of the whole Bible. Understand them, and the entire story comes into focus.
Covenant
KUV-uh-nunt
A solemn, binding promise or agreement — especially one made between God and His people. Unlike a regular promise, a covenant in the Bible usually involves serious commitment, often sealed with a sacrifice, a sign, or an oath.
In kids' words
A covenant is the most serious kind of promise you can make — like a super-promise that can never be broken. When God makes a covenant, He is saying: "I will keep this forever, no matter what."
"And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood."
— Genesis 9:11, KJV (God's covenant with Noah)
Grace
GRACE
Undeserved kindness and favor, freely given. In the Bible, grace most often refers to God's gift of forgiveness and blessing to people who have not earned it and cannot earn it. It is the opposite of getting what you deserve.
In kids' words
Grace is like getting a wonderful gift from God even though you did nothing to deserve it. It means God loves and forgives you — not because you were good enough, but just because He chooses to.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."
— Ephesians 2:8, KJV
Parable
PAIR-uh-bul
A short story that uses everyday situations to teach a spiritual truth. Jesus used parables constantly — stories about farmers, coins, sheep, and fathers — to explain what the Kingdom of God is like in ways ordinary people could grasp.
In kids' words
A parable is a story that teaches an important lesson about God. When Jesus told stories about lost sheep or a son who ran away from home, those were parables — the stories were real-life, but the lesson was about heaven and forgiveness.
"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow."
— Matthew 13:3, KJV
Psalm
SAHM (the P is silent)
A sacred song or poem from the Bible, especially one of the 150 collected in the Book of Psalms. Psalms were written to be sung as worship. They cover the full range of human emotion — praise, sorrow, fear, joy, gratitude — all directed toward God.
In kids' words
A psalm is a song or poem written to God. The Book of Psalms is like a songbook people used when they worshipped thousands of years ago. Some psalms are happy and full of praise; others are sad prayers asking God for help.
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
— Psalm 23:1, KJV
Righteousness
RY-chus-ness
Being right with God — living and acting in a way that matches God's character and standards. Righteousness has two aspects: the righteous life God calls us to live, and the righteousness God gives us through faith, which we could never earn.
In kids' words
Righteousness means "being right with God." A righteous person tries to do what is good, honest, and kind — the way God wants. But the Bible also teaches that God can make us righteous as a gift, even when we mess up.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."
— Matthew 5:6, KJV
See These Words in Context
LittleWord highlights difficult Bible vocabulary and provides instant definitions as you read — so your child learns these words right in Scripture.
Open the Free Bible Reader →The Language of the KJV (6–9)
The King James Bible was translated in 1611, and some of its words sound strange to modern ears. Understanding these helps children realize the KJV isn't broken — it just has its own grammar.
Thee / Thou
THEE / THOW
The KJV's words for "you" when speaking to one person. "Thou" is the subject ("Thou art the Christ") and "thee" is the object ("I love thee"). "Ye" means "you all." Modern English collapsed all three into one "you."
In kids' words
"Thou" and "thee" just mean "you" — but for one person only. When you pray "Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name," you're using the KJV way of talking to God. "Ye" means "you all" (like a group).
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
— Matthew 16:16, KJV
Begat
beh-GAT
The past tense of "beget," meaning "became the father of." It appears throughout the genealogies (family lists) in the Bible. "Abraham begat Isaac" simply means Abraham was Isaac's father.
In kids' words
"Begat" is an old way of saying "had a son" or "was the father of." When you read long lists in the Bible like "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob," it's just listing who came from who — like a family tree.
"Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren."
— Matthew 1:2, KJV
Firmament
FUR-muh-ment
The sky or heavens — the expanse that God made on the second day of creation. The Hebrew word pictures a stretched-out canopy spread over the earth. In Genesis 1, God places the sun, moon, and stars "in the firmament."
In kids' words
"Firmament" is the word for the sky that God created. On day two of creation, God stretched out the sky above the earth and called it the firmament. It's where the clouds are, where birds fly, and where God put the sun and stars.
"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters... And God called the firmament Heaven."
— Genesis 1:6–8, KJV
Hallowed
HAL-ode
Holy; set apart as sacred and worthy of deep reverence. Every child who has prayed the Lord's Prayer has already used this word: "Hallowed be thy name" means "May your name be treated as holy."
In kids' words
"Hallowed" means very, very holy — like something so special and pure that you treat it with the greatest respect. When we say "hallowed be thy name," we're saying "God, your name is the most holy name there is."
"Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
— Matthew 6:9, KJV
God's Character (10–12)
These words describe three of the most important qualities of God that children will encounter across every book of the Bible.
Blessed
BLES-id (2 syllables as an adjective) or BLEST (past tense)
Favored by God; experiencing God's goodness and approval. When Jesus says "Blessed are the meek," He means those people have a deep, genuine happiness that comes from being right with God — not just outward success.
In kids' words
"Blessed" means God is pleased with you and is working good things in your life. It's a deep happiness that comes from God — not just having toys or money, but knowing God loves you and has good things planned.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
— Matthew 5:8, KJV
Mercy
MUR-see
Kindness and compassion shown to someone who deserves punishment. When God shows mercy, He withholds the judgment that sin deserves. Mercy is closely related to grace — but where grace is giving a gift you don't deserve, mercy is not giving punishment you do deserve.
In kids' words
Mercy means not getting punished when you should be. Imagine doing something wrong and your parent saying "I'm not going to punish you this time — because I love you." That's mercy. God shows us mercy because He loves us.
"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."
— Lamentations 3:22, KJV
Wrath
RATH (rhymes with "bath")
Intense, righteous anger at sin and injustice. The wrath of God is not a temper tantrum — it is God's just response to evil. Understanding God's wrath is what makes grace and mercy so meaningful: He has every right to punish, but chooses to forgive those who trust in Christ.
In kids' words
Wrath means very serious, righteous anger. When someone does something truly wrong, a good judge is right to be angry — that's wrath. God's wrath is His righteous anger at sin. That's why we need Jesus — to take God's wrath in our place.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men."
— Romans 1:18, KJV
Read Together with Built-In Vocabulary Help
LittleWord highlights over 300 difficult KJV words — tap any highlighted word for an instant child-friendly definition. Free with Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and John.
Start Reading for Free →Sin and Salvation (13–18)
The central story of the Bible is about the problem of sin and God's rescue. These six words are the vocabulary of that story.
Iniquity
ih-NIK-wih-tee
Serious moral wrongdoing — deep, persistent sin. The word carries a sense of twistedness or crookedness: turning away from what is right. The Bible often uses "iniquity" for sins that are habitual or deeply rooted, not just a single slip.
In kids' words
Iniquity means serious sin — especially the kind that twists us away from what is good. The Bible says we all have iniquity in our hearts, which is why we need God to cleanse us and make us new.
"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities."
— Isaiah 53:5, KJV
Transgression
tranz-GRESH-un
The act of crossing a boundary — specifically, breaking God's law. "Trans" means across; "gression" comes from stepping. To transgress is to deliberately step over a line God has drawn. It's similar to sin, but emphasizes the act of knowingly breaking a rule.
In kids' words
A transgression is when you cross a line you know you shouldn't cross — like breaking one of God's rules on purpose. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, that was a transgression — they knew the rule and crossed it anyway.
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."
— Psalm 32:1, KJV
Repentance
reh-PEN-tance
A genuine change of heart and direction — turning away from sin and turning toward God. Biblical repentance is not just feeling sorry; it involves a real decision to go a different way. John the Baptist, Jesus, and every apostle called people to repentance.
In kids' words
Repentance means truly changing your mind about sin — not just feeling bad, but deciding to turn around and go God's way instead. It's like walking the wrong direction, stopping, and walking back toward God.
"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
— Matthew 3:2, KJV
Atonement
uh-TONE-ment
Making things right between God and people — covering sin through a sacrifice so that the relationship can be restored. In the Old Testament, animals were sacrificed for atonement. In the New Testament, Jesus is the final and perfect atonement for all sin.
In kids' words
Atonement means making things right again after sin broke the relationship. Think of it as: when something is broken, you have to fix it. Sin broke our relationship with God. Jesus made atonement — He fixed it, by taking our punishment Himself.
"And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel."
— Leviticus 16:16, KJV
Salvation
sal-VAY-shun
Being saved — rescued from sin, death, and separation from God. Salvation is the central gift of the gospel: God rescuing people who could not rescue themselves. In Hebrew, the name "Joshua" (and in Greek, "Jesus") literally means "God saves."
In kids' words
Salvation means being rescued and saved. We were in a terrible situation because of sin, and we couldn't save ourselves. So God sent Jesus to rescue us. When we trust Jesus, God gives us salvation — we are saved!
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
— John 3:16, KJV
Sanctify
SANK-tih-fy
To make holy; to set apart for God's purposes. God sanctified the Sabbath (set it apart as a rest day). Jesus sanctified His disciples (set them apart for His work). The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers (makes them more holy over time).
In kids' words
Sanctify means to make something holy and set it apart for God. It's like setting aside your very best plate for a special guest — except with sanctify, God is setting apart His people to be special and to belong to Him.
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work."
— Genesis 2:3, KJV
Worship and the Old Testament (19–22)
These words anchor the Old Testament's world of worship, places, and time. They appear constantly in the first half of the Bible.
Tabernacle
TAB-er-nak-ul
A portable tent that served as God's dwelling place among the Israelites during their forty years in the wilderness. God gave Moses precise instructions for every detail. The Tabernacle was eventually replaced by Solomon's Temple — a permanent building in Jerusalem.
In kids' words
The Tabernacle was a special tent that God told Moses to build so that God could live among His people as they traveled through the desert. It was like a holy tent — God's house in the middle of the Israelite camp.
"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."
— Exodus 25:8, KJV
Sabbath
SAB-uth
The seventh day of the week — Saturday in the Jewish calendar — set apart by God as a day of rest and worship. God rested on the seventh day of creation, and commanded Israel to do the same. Jesus rose on the first day of the week (Sunday), which is why Christians worship then.
In kids' words
The Sabbath is God's day of rest. After making everything in six days, God rested on day seven. He told His people to rest on this day too — no work, just worship and peace. It was a reminder that God provides and we don't have to work all the time.
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
— Exodus 20:8, KJV
Propitiation
pro-PIH-shee-AY-shun
A sacrifice that satisfies God's righteous anger against sin and restores the relationship. It goes beyond atonement (which means covering) — propitiation actually turns away wrath. The New Testament says Jesus is our propitiation: He took the full weight of God's anger against sin so we don't have to.
In kids' words
Propitiation is a big word for a beautiful idea: Jesus took God's anger at sin upon Himself so we could go free. It's like a friend stepping in front of the punishment to protect you. Jesus did that for every person who trusts Him.
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
— 1 John 2:2, KJV
Multitude
MUL-tih-tood
A very large crowd of people. The Gospels repeatedly describe Jesus being surrounded by "a great multitude" — the huge crowds who followed Him to hear His teaching, see His miracles, and receive His healing.
In kids' words
A multitude is a huge, huge crowd — so many people you could barely count them. When Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, He was feeding a multitude. The word just means a very large group of people.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him."
— Matthew 5:1, KJV
New Testament Essentials (23–25)
These three words are central to the New Testament and will unlock some of the most-quoted passages in all of Scripture.
Begotten
beh-GOT-un
Born of; uniquely brought forth. "Only begotten Son" is one of the most important phrases in the New Testament — it describes Jesus as the one and only Son of God, uniquely and eternally born of the Father, not created like angels or humans.
In kids' words
"Begotten" means "born of" — and "only begotten" means "one of a kind." When the Bible calls Jesus God's "only begotten Son," it means Jesus is God's unique, one-and-only Son in a way no one else can ever be.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son."
— John 3:16, KJV
Commandment
kuh-MAND-ment
A direct instruction or law from God that must be obeyed. The Ten Commandments are the most famous, but the Bible contains many commandments. Jesus summarized them all in two: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself.
In kids' words
A commandment is a direct rule or instruction from God — not a suggestion, but a real command. God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses so His people would know how to live rightly and treat each other well.
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment."
— Matthew 22:37–38, KJV
Abide
uh-BIDE
To remain, to stay, to dwell. In the New Testament, "abide" takes on deep spiritual meaning in Jesus's teaching: to abide in Him is to remain connected to Him as a branch stays connected to a vine — drawing life and strength from that relationship.
In kids' words
"Abide" means to stay or to live somewhere. When Jesus says "Abide in me," He means: stay close to me, don't wander away, keep being connected to me — the way a branch stays attached to a tree to get what it needs to grow.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
— John 15:4, KJV
How to Teach These Words — Without Turning It Into a Lesson
Vocabulary sticks when children encounter words in context, not just on flashcards. Here's a simple approach that works at any age:
- Read the word in its verse. Don't pre-define it — let your child hear it in Scripture first.
- Ask what they think it means. Children's instincts are often closer than you'd expect.
- Give the plain definition. Short, specific, and connected to something they already understand.
- Use it in conversation. "That was gracious of her." "God made a covenant with Abraham." Natural use cements the meaning.
- Watch for it. When you read the Bible together, pause and say, "There's our word — righteousness. Do you remember what it means?"
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105, KJV — a verse worth memorizing alongside these vocabulary words.
Where to Find These Words in LittleWord
LittleWord's interactive Bible reader includes a built-in vocabulary system with over 300 child-friendly definitions for difficult KJV words. When you read together and tap on a highlighted word, an instant definition appears — no flipping through dictionaries, no interrupting the flow of the story.
Many of the 25 words in this guide are part of LittleWord's vocabulary database, defined in language children can understand and encountered right where they appear in the text. The best way to learn these words isn't to study them in a list — it's to encounter them in Scripture, with just enough explanation to keep moving forward.
📖 Reading Plan Suggestion
Try reading Genesis 1 (firmament, sanctify), Psalm 23 (psalm, mercy), and John 3:1–21 (begotten, salvation) in the same week. Each one brings several vocabulary words to life in their natural context — and together they span the whole Bible story.
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All 66 books, vocabulary tools, and quizzes — completely free
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LittleWord highlights difficult KJV words and provides instant child-friendly definitions as you read. Free to start with Genesis, Psalms, Proverbs, and John.
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