peculiar meaning in the KJV

Meaning in context

Peculiar in the expressions peculiar treasure and peculiar people concerns belonging and possession. It does not mean that the people are simply strange or eccentric.

Exodus 19:5 speaks of Israel as a peculiar treasure in a covenant setting. Titus 2:14 speaks of a people purified unto Christ and zealous of good works. Keep the setting of each passage distinct.

Ecclesiastes 2:8 uses peculiar treasure in an account of royal wealth. This confirms that the English word can describe a special possession; it is not exclusively a label for a religious group.

KJV examples

Exodus 19:5 KJV

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Peculiar treasure describes belonging to God within the covenant statement.

Titus 2:14 KJV

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Peculiar people describes a people purified unto Christ.

Ecclesiastes 2:8 KJV

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Peculiar treasure refers to special treasure in the account of royal possessions.

First exact-word occurrence

Exodus 19:5 KJV

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

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 peculiar appears 7 times in 7 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

• conversation

  Conversation often means conduct or manner of life in the KJV; Philippians 3:20 concerns heavenly citizenship.

• charity

  Charity in these KJV passages is love expressed in its character and actions.

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