Meanings of the Word Endings EST and ETH in the King James Bible
The King James Bible has many words ending in EST or ETH like goest or goeth. If we take the EST or ETH from the word we have the simple meaning. For example, when we eliminate the EST and ETH from goest and goeth we have the word go. This is the easiest way to understand the principal meaning of a word of this type.
But why the EST and ETH? What do they mean?
The King James Bible was translated to give us the clearest meaning of the translated texts as possible. In this case these suffixes are given to help us differenciate between the Second and Third Person Singular.
Words ending in EST are Second Person Singular Present.
Words ending in ETH are Third Person Singular Present.
For example:
When we add EST to the word see, it becomes seest, which is the Second Person Singular Present. If we add ETH to the word see it becomes seeth, which is the Third Person Singular Present.
Other words with EST and ETH are:
Mayest – Mayeth
Teachest – Teacheth
Carest – Careth
Callest – Calleth
Knowest – Knoweth
Sendest – Sendeth
Comest – Cometh
Answerest – Answereth
Doest – Doeth
In Luke 23:3 when Jesus says “Thou sayest it,” he was speaking to Pilate in the Second Person Singular Present.
In John 21:17 Jesus says to Simon Peter “Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” Again, the word love with EST or lovEST indicates the Second Person Singular Present (Jesus speaking to Peter).
In John 1:15 John the Baptist speaks of Jesus “He that cometh after me is preferred before me:” the ETH in cometh shows us that Jesus is being spoken of in the Third Person Singular Present, and further down in verse 26 John the Baptist says to the Pharisees about Jesus: “I baptise with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not.”
Again we see ETH, this time with the word stand. In this case standeth refers to Jesus in the Third Person Singular Present.