Wist, Witty, Wot
The Verb 'To Wit'
In the English of the King James Version (1611), "to wit" was a common verb meaning "to know." Its present tense was "wot" (I wot, he wot) and its past tense was "wist" (he wist). Though these forms sound strange to modern ears, they share the same root as familiar English words like "wisdom," "witness," and "unwitting." The verb was already becoming archaic by the time the KJV was translated, and it disappeared from everyday English within a few decades.
'Wot' in the Bible
The present tense "wot" appears in several notable passages. In Genesis 21:26, Abimelech tells Abraham, "I do not know who has done this thing. You did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today" — where the KJV reads "I wot not who hath done this thing." In Genesis 39:8, Joseph tells Potiphar's wife that his master "wotteth not what is with me in the house," meaning Potiphar does not concern himself with household affairs because he trusts Joseph.
Exodus 32:1 records the Israelites saying about Moses, "We wot not what is become of him," expressing their uncertainty about his fate on Mount Sinai. Joshua 2:5 has Rahab telling the king's messengers about the spies, "Whither the men went I wot not" — a deliberate lie to protect them.
'Wist' in the Bible
The past tense "wist" appears in passages describing someone who did not know something at a particular moment. Exodus 16:15 records the Israelites encountering manna for the first time: "They wist not what it was" — they did not know what it was. In Exodus 34:29, when Moses came down from Sinai with the tablets of the law, "Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone" — he was unaware of the transformation.
Judges 16:20 provides one of the most poignant uses: when Samson awoke after Delilah's betrayal, "he wist not that the Lord was departed from him." He did not know that his strength had left him. In the New Testament, Luke 2:49 records the boy Jesus asking His parents, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" — "Did you not know?"
'To Wit' as an Explanatory Phrase
Beyond the verb conjugation, the infinitive "to wit" was frequently used in the KJV as an explanatory phrase meaning "that is to say" or "namely." This usage appears in passages like Joshua 17:1 ("to wit, for Machir"), 1 Kings 2:32, and 2 Corinthians 5:19 ("to wit, that God was in Christ"). This particular usage has survived into modern legal language, where "to wit" still introduces specific details in formal documents.
'Witty' and 'Wit'
The adjective "witty" in KJV English means "having knowledge" or "showing understanding," not "humorous" as in modern English. Proverbs 8:12 reads in the KJV, "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." Modern translations render this as "discretion" or "knowledge and prudent counsel." The evolution of "witty" from "knowledgeable" to "cleverly humorous" happened gradually over the centuries following the KJV's publication.
The noun "wit" in Psalm 107:27 describes sailors in a storm who are "at their wit's end" — literally, all their wisdom or skill has been exhausted. This phrase, unlike most of the words discussed here, has survived into modern English with essentially the same meaning.
Why These Words Matter
Understanding archaic vocabulary is important for anyone reading the King James Version or encountering it in quotations and hymns. Modern translations consistently replace "wot," "wist," and "witty" with their modern equivalents, making the meaning immediately clear. The American Standard Revised Version changed all instances to "know" throughout. But for the millions who still read and love the KJV, recognizing these words as simple synonyms for "know" and "knew" removes a significant barrier to comprehension.
Biblical Context
"Wot" and "wist" together appear about 24 times in the KJV, spanning both Old and New Testaments. Notable occurrences include Genesis 21:26; 39:8; Exodus 16:15; 32:1; 34:29; Joshua 2:5; Judges 16:20; Luke 2:49; and Acts 12:9. The explanatory "to wit" appears in Joshua 17:1; 1 Kings 2:32; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 8:1. "Witty" appears in Proverbs 8:12, and "wit's end" in Psalm 107:27.
Theological Significance
While these words are primarily a matter of translation rather than theology, the passages in which they appear carry significant theological weight. Moses' unknowing radiance (Exodus 34:29) demonstrates the transforming power of God's presence. Samson's unawareness of God's departure (Judges 16:20) warns of the danger of presuming upon divine favor. Jesus' question to His parents (Luke 2:49) reveals His early consciousness of His divine mission. The theological content of these passages is enriched rather than diminished by understanding the vocabulary precisely.
Historical Background
The English language underwent dramatic changes between the medieval period and the modern era. The verb 'to wit' descended from Old English 'witan,' which was the standard word for knowing. By the 1600s, 'know' had largely replaced it in everyday speech, though 'wot' and 'wist' persisted in formal and literary contexts. The KJV translators used the language of their time, which was already transitional. The survival of 'to wit' in legal English and 'wit's end' in common speech shows how fragments of this older vocabulary persist long after the broader system has disappeared.