English language hymns often have words, terms, place names, idioms and contractions not found in modern speech. This page explains some of them; it is especially recommended for those for whom English is a second language.
| Term | Meaning |
| abide, abideth | wait, remain |
| abode | home |
| accord | bestow, grant; agreement, opinion |
| actuate | influence, guide |
| addrest | addressed |
| Æthiop | Ethiopian |
| afford | Provide, make available |
| Alpha | First letter of the Greek alphabet. Often used to refer to God, in the phrase “Alpha and Omega,” meaning “the beginning and the end [of all things]” |
| alas | Expresses sorrow or regret |
| anew | again, once more |
| anoint | sanctify or consecrate |
| apace | quickly, immediately |
| apostolic | Relating to the 12 Apostles, their faith or their teaching |
| apple (of eye) | pupil (of eye) |
| archangel | A high ranking angel |
| art | are |
| ascendeth | ascends |
| assail | attack |
| asunder | into separate parts |
| athirst | thirsty, or strongly desiring |
| atone | pay the penalty for (a crime), make amends |
| attend | accompany |
| aye | yes, ever |
| bark | ship |
| bade | commanded, invited |
| bare | bore |
| beclouded | darkened by clouds |
| befall | happen |
| belfry | bell tower |
| benediction | blessing, praise |
| Bethel | A site in Israel which was formerly a major center of worship |
| betide | happen |
| Beulah | Israel |
| bid | utter a greeting or command |
| bidden | see “bid” |
| bidst | greeted, commanded |
| blest | blessed |
| board | table |
| brethren | brothers |
| builded | built |
| Calvary | The hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus was executed |
| Canaan | The previous name of the land now occupied by Israel |
| canst | can |
| camest | came |
| cark | To burden or be burdened with trouble; worry |
| cento | A hymn made up of separate verses from a longer original |
| changest | changes |
| chaplet | A wreath or garland for the head |
| cherub, cherubim | An angel or celestial being |
| clime | climate, region |
| clotheth | puts clothes on |
| cloven | split |
| comest | come |
| cometh | comes |
| contemn | despise |
| covenant | a contract or binding agreement |
| crucify | To execute a person by hanging him on a cross until he dies |
| crucifixion | the act of crucifying |
| cumbered | Burdened, weighed down |
| darksome | dark |
| David | The second king of Israel |
| daystar | morning star |
| deign | condescend to give or grant |
| descendeth | descends |
| descry | To see |
| didst | did |
| dieth | dies |
| divers | various |
| doeth | does |
| dost | do |
| doth | does |
| draweth | draws, comes |
| drear | dreary, dark |
| dreary | sad |
| dwelleth | lives |
| dwelt | dwelled |
| Edom | A region in the ancient Mideast, south of the Dead Sea |
| e’er | ever |
| employ | use |
| Emmanuel | A special name for Jesus, meaning “God with us” |
| encamp | Set up or live in a camp |
| enthrone | put on a throne |
| entreat | request |
| ere | before |
| eve | evening, the night before |
| eventide | evening |
| evermore | forever |
| faileth | fails |
| fain | gladly |
| fane | temple, church, shrine |
| fast | One meaning is “tightly” or “securely” |
| feedeth | feeds |
| felicity | happiness |
| fen | swamp, marsh |
| fetter | chains, shackles |
| floweret | a small flower |
| floweth | flows |
| fold | flock or pen, as in “sheep fold” |
| for aye | forever |
| fore’er | forever |
| forevermore | forever |
| foretaste | advance sample, hint |
| forsaketh | forsakes, abandons |
| fraught (with) | filled with, having |
| froward | stubborn, willful |
| gainst | against |
| Gethsemane | A garden near Jerusalem where Jesus spent His last night before being arrested |
| giveth | gives |
| gladsome | happy |
| Golgotha | See Calvary |
| goodly | Of pleasing appearance; of large number |
| grace | The theological sense is special favor, protection or forgiveness given by God |
| greenwood | woods, forest |
| guileless | free of deception and trickery; innocent |
| halleluia, hallelujah, halleluyah | Praise the Lord |
| hallow | sanctify, make holy |
| hallowed | holy |
| hast | have |
| hasten | make something come or go more quickly |
| hath | has |
| hearest | hear |
| heareth | hears |
| heedeth | pays attention to |
| henceforth | from now on |
| hereafter | Immediately after; “the hereafter” means life after death |
| hideth | hides |
| hie | go quickly |
| hither | to or toward this place |
| hitherto | Up to this time; until now. |
| holdeth | holds |
| hosanna | A shout of praise |
| host | A large multitude, or army |
| illume, illumine | illuminate, light up |
| Immanuel | See Emmanuel |
| inly | inwardly |
| intercedeth | intercedes |
| Isaiah | An Old Testament prophet |
| Jesse | Father of King David |
| justify | In a religious sense, to remove the guilt or punishment due for sin. |
| kindred | Related people, such a family or tribe |
| knoweth | knows |
| laud | praise |
| lay | song |
| leadeth | leads |
| legion | A large number, thousands |
| lest | for fear that |
| list | listen |
| lo | Expresses surprise or attracts attention |
| Macedonia | A region in ancient Greece |
| madest | made |
| main | ocean, sea (e.g., “the main”) |
| manifest | show, demonstrate; be evidence of |
| manna | Miraculous food God gave the Israelites in the desert |
| meed | a gift or payment |
| meet | sufficient, appropriate |
| methinks | I think |
| methought | I thought |
| mid, midst | In the middle of |
| millennial | Referring to a 1000-year period, or specifically to the 1000-year reign of Christ described in the book of Revelation. |
| minstrelsy | Ballads and lyrics sung by minstrels |
| mite | A very small amount of money |
| moil | Toil, drudgery, confusion, turmoil |
| morn | morning |
| morrow | tomorrow |
| myrrh | An expensive incense or perfume made from the resin of a Middle Eastern plant |
| naught | nothing |
| Nazarene | Someone from Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. Usually refers to Jesus. |
| ’neath | beneath |
| needful | necessary, required |
| ne’er | never |
| nigh | near; almost |
| noontide | noon, noontime |
| obtest | beg for, beseech, supplicate |
| o’er | over |
| o’ershade | overshadow |
| o’ertake | overtake |
| ordain, ordaineth | proclaim as a law or command |
| ordinance | law, command |
| oft | often |
| olden | old |
| Omega | last letter of the Greek alphabet: Ω |
| ope | open |
| overborne | overwhelmed, defeated |
| own | acknowledge |
| Paraclete | The Holy Spirit |
| pavilioned | covered, as if by a tent |
| peculiar | appropriate |
| Pentecost | The day, 50 days after Passover, when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles. |
| pine | to grieve or mourn for |
| pinions | wings |
| Pisgah | The mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised Land into which he would not enter. |
| plenitude | abundance |
| plighted | promised, pledged |
| psaltery | An ancient stringed instrument similar to a harp. |
| quick | alive, living |
| quicken, quickening | bring to life, vitalize |
| quire | choir |
| receiveth | receives |
| reignest | reign |
| reigneth | reigns |
| remaineth | remains |
| repair | go to frequently |
| repine | complain, be discontented |
| repose | rest |
| rood | crucifix, cross |
| ’round | around |
| ruleth | rules |
| sabaoth | In Hebrew, plural form of “army” or “host.” |
| saith | says |
| seemly | suitable, appropriate |
| seest | see, sees |
| seraph, seraphim | An angelic or celestial being |
| shalt | shall |
| shareth | shares |
| shineth | shines |
| shouldst | should |
| showeth | shows |
| Sion | See Zion |
| sittest | sits |
| sore | full of sorrow or distress |
| soundeth | sounds |
| spake | spoke |
| stablish | establish |
| stead | Place or position usually occupied by someone else |
| steadfast | reliable, trustworthy |
| strand | shore, beach |
| strown | covered with, scattered |
| succor | help in time of distress |
| sunder | In parts, or break into parts |
| suffer | undergo pain; permit |
| sup | eat |
| supernal | heavenly, blessed |
| supplication | prayer, request |
| sustaineth | sustain |
| swaddling cloths | Strips of cloth wrapped around a baby to keep it still |
| sway | influence, power |
| taketh | takes |
| tempter | Usually, Satan, the devil |
| th’ | the |
| thee | you |
| thine | yours |
| thither | there |
| tho’ | though |
| thou | you |
| thro’ | through |
| thy | your |
| thyself | yourself |
| tidings | news |
| till | until |
| timbrel | An ancient musical instrument similar to a tambourine |
| ’tis | it is |
| Trinity | The three-in-one Godhead |
| Triune | Three-in-one, referring to the Godhead |
| trod | walked |
| trump | trumpet |
| ’twas | it was |
| ’twere | it were |
| ’twill | it will |
| ’twixt | between |
| unbelief | Lack of belief or faith |
| unction | Anointing, as part of a religious ritual |
| unto | to, until, by |
| unwearied | not weary |
| vale | valley |
| visitant | visitor, guest |
| vouchsafe | Condescend to give or bestow |
| weal | happiness, prosperity |
| wert | were |
| whate’er | whatever |
| ’whelm | overwhelm |
| whence | from where |
| whene’er | whenever |
| where’er | wherever |
| wherewith | The thing or things with which; by means of which. |
| whither | where |
| whosoever | whoever |
| wilt | will |
| withersoever | wherever |
| wonted | Customary, usual |
| worldling | A person preoccupied with worldly pleasures or concerns |
| wouldst | would |
| ye | you |
| yea | yes, truly |
| yonder | distant, over there |
| zephyr | breeze |
| Zion | The land or people of Israel. Mount Zion is the hill on which Jerusalem is located. |