I love exploring unusual words and I particularly love the way some words sound as they roll off the tongue. The old English language is especially poetic and probably why many people use the King James version of the Bible. This language, though sometimes difficult to understand, has a lyrical tone – a not-so-often used – is reserved for special occasions and is set apart from the common language. It makes it seem more important and worthy of the One who is speaking it.

The word, “Withersoever” is used 35 times in various versions of the Bible. It is defined as “Wherever.” We tend to shorten beautiful words in the English language, which I believe gives them less power. When someone pledges their faithfulness, they might say, “Whithersoever thou goest, there will I follow. The formality of the word makes it sound official, doesn’t it? Words are used to communicate ideas, needs, plans, solutions and countless other reasons. To attach a whithersoever to a sentence would probably raise a few eyebrows today, but that’s because we tend to shorten a lot of words simply to save time,. Someday “whithersoever.” might become WSE in text language.

I personally read the ESV Bible for easier reading, but there’s something about the King James Version that seems to set it apart and gives it the honor it deserves. Therefore, whithersoever thou goest today, knowest that the King of Glory is at your side to guide thee through the outermost wanderings both hither and yon.

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 2:1