whither meaning in the KJV

Meaning in context

Whither describes a destination or direction. In a question it asks where someone is going; in a relative clause it identifies the place toward which someone moves.

Genesis 16:8 puts whence and whither together. One concerns where Hagar came from; the other concerns where she will go. John 13:36 likewise uses whither in a question about the destination of going.

Keep the distinction between destination and origin. Thither points to that destination, while whence points back to an origin. The surrounding verse identifies the actual place; the word alone does not.

KJV examples

Genesis 16:8 KJV

And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

Whither asks about Hagar’s destination.

John 13:36 KJV

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

Peter asks about the destination of Jesus’ going.

Ruth 1:16 KJV

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Whither introduces the place to which Naomi will go.

First exact-word occurrence

Genesis 16:8 KJV

And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

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 whither appears 124 times in 119 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

• thither

  Thither means to that place or toward that place.

• whence

  Whence means from where or from which place or source.

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