Throughly and Thoroughly in the Bible

I have recently been asked the question; “What is the difference between thoughly and thoroughly, in the Bible?

This is a great question! And it’s a perfect example of why it is important not to change the Bible into “modern language”.

First remember the most basic rule of Bible study, “Things that are different are not the same”. Sounds pretty ridiculous that we even have to point that out, but, in this case we must. The argument goes something like this:

“throughly has ceased to be used in modern English because it meant virtually the same thing as the word thoroughly.”

Another argument (and it is even more absurd) is that every time the word “throughly” is used it is actually a typo”. I have actually heard both of these arguments.

These arguments might have some foundation it were not for that simple rule I mentioned earlier, “things that are different are not the same”. If the Bible used the word “throughly” instead of “thoroughly” because it was the old form of the word “thoroughly” then we would not expect to find “thoroughly” in the Bible. But we find both of them. In fact, the word “thoroughly” is used two times:

• Exodus 21:19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
• 2 Kings 11:18 And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.

So this proves that “thoroughly” was in common use at the same time as “throughly”.

What about the “it’s a typo” argument? Well, that might work in other literary works but not the Bible. When we study the Bible, we believe that the context of the passage is very important.

This is true in this case as well. If the use of the word “throughly” was merely a typo then we would expect the context that the word was used in to be the same as the context in which the word “thoroughly” was used. So let’s examine the context:

• In the verses given above, the context of the word “thoroughly” is referring to the detail with which something was done (the idol was broken in pieces with great detail, and the man was healed from every detail of his sickness).
• The context of the verses in which “throughly” is used is not referring to the detail of an action, but rather, the depth or penetration of the action. Examples of this are:
1. Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
2. Psalm 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. Jeremiah 6:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.
4. 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

These are just 4 of the 11 times “throughly” is used in scripture. The context is clear, it is the depth/penetrating action that is being spoken about, not simply a detailed action.

It is true that in our modern day English language we could have used “thorough” in these verses instead of “throughly”, but we would not have the idea of complete penetration all of the way through.

Brick must be “throughly” burned in the kiln, not “thoroughly”. If it was burned thoroughly it could have been burned beyond use. But if it is burned “throughly” then it has been burned just the right amount all the way through.

I can “thoroughly” wash my hands, but I cannot “throughly” wash them because we cant get the soap and water to the inside.

“Things that are different are not the same”. Sometimes it takes a little work to distinguish the difference, but it’s a difference just the same.