letteth meaning in the KJV

Meaning in context

The meaning of letteth depends on the sentence. In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 it uses the older restraining sense of let. The passage speaks of restraint continuing until the one restraining is taken out of the way.

This is not the sense in every KJV occurrence. In 2 Kings 10:24, letteth him go concerns allowing a man to escape. In Proverbs 17:14, letteth out water concerns releasing water. An English spelling by itself cannot settle the meaning in another passage.

The Greek term recorded for 2 Thessalonians 2:7 in Word Focus is κατέχω, transliterated katechō, with the sense hold, retain, or restrain. That word does not identify the restrainer by name. Read verses 6–8 together before making an interpretation about who or what restrains.

KJV examples

2 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Here letteth describes restraint. Read the surrounding passage for what Paul says about its duration.

2 Kings 10:24 KJV

And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

Here letteth him go concerns permitting escape, rather than restraining it.

Proverbs 17:14 KJV

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Here letteth out water describes a release. The comparison warns about the beginning of strife.

First exact-word occurrence

2 Kings 10:24 KJV

And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

This is the earliest occurrence of this exact English spelling in canonical KJV Bible order. A related word form, a subject, or a person may appear earlier.

Find every occurrence

The exact English word letteth appears 3 times in 3 KJV verses. Counts ignore letter case and exclude other spellings and word forms.

For original-language details, select the word in the particular chapter. A word can represent different terms or constructions in different verses.

Related word studies

• prevent

  Prevent can mean come before, go before, or meet beforehand in the KJV.

• suffer

  Suffer can mean allow or permit, and it can also describe undergoing hardship.

Study method

These explanations are separate study notes. Every Scripture quotation above is copied from the existing KJV chapter text. Read the whole chapter and compare the setting before applying a meaning to another occurrence.

• Difficult and archaic KJV words
• Methodology and sources