Key Verse: "And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." - Psalm 9:10 KJV
In the King James Version (KJV), the translators used different capitalization styles very deliberately to signal different underlying Hebrew or Greek words. Here is a concise breakdown:
1. LORD (all caps)
Meaning:
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Translates the Hebrew YHWH (the Tetragrammaton), the personal covenant name of God.
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Often rendered as “Jehovah” in older English writings.
Significance:
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Emphasizes God’s self-existent, eternal nature and His covenant relationship with Israel.
Example:
“I am the LORD thy God…” — Exodus 20:2 (KJV)
2. Lord (capital L, lowercase ord)
Meaning:
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Usually translates Hebrew Adonai or Greek Kyrios.
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Means master, sovereign, or one in authority.
Significance:
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Can refer to God, Christ, or sometimes a human authority, depending on context.
Examples:
“The Lord said unto my Lord…” — Psalm 110:1 (KJV)
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…” — Acts 16:31 (KJV)
3. lord (lowercase)
Meaning:
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Refers to a human master, ruler, or person of authority.
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Translates Hebrew adon or Greek kyrios when clearly human.
Example:
“Serve your masters; fear your lord.” — cf. Genesis 24:9 (KJV)
(Capitalization reflects respect but not deity.)
4. God (capital G)
Meaning:
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Refers to the one true God.
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Usually translates Hebrew Elohim or Greek Theos.
Significance:
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Emphasizes deity, power, and majesty.
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“Elohim” is plural in form but singular in meaning when referring to the true God.
Example:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
5. god (lowercase)
Meaning:
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Refers to false gods, idols, or sometimes human judges/rulers.
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Also used for beings treated as divine.
Examples:
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” — Exodus 20:3 (KJV)
“I have said, Ye are gods…” — Psalm 82:6 (KJV)
Quick Reference Table
| KJV Form | Original Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| LORD | YHWH | God’s covenant name |
| Lord | Adonai / Kyrios | Master, sovereign |
| lord | adon / kyrios | Human authority |
| God | Elohim / Theos | The true God |
| god | elohim / theos | False gods or judges |
The KJV’s capitalization acts like a study guide built into the text. Once you understand it, passages, especially in Psalms and the prophets, become much clearer theologically.
