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KJV dictionary & concordance

better

Meaning of “better”

Sense 1: More excellent, more fitting, or to a greater degree. Sense 2: To improve or make better.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-referencesWebster 1828
117 occurrences114 verses32 booksKJV PCE

Some verses contain the word more than once.

First occurrence: Genesis 29:19

Complete exact-word concordance

Every verse containing “better”

KJV PCE

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Showing verses 11–20 of 114 · 117 word occurrences in this result

1 Samuel 15:28
And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Samuel 15:28 · retained source text

And Samuel said vnto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdome of Israel from thee this day, and hath giuen it to a neighbour of thine, that is better then thou.

1 Samuel 27:1
AND David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Samuel 27:1 · retained source text

¶ And Dauid sayd in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me, then that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shal despaire of me, to seeke me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

1611 marginal noteHebr. be consumed.

2 Samuel 17:14
And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 17:14 · retained source text

And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsell of Hushai the Archite, is better then the counsell of Ahithophel: For the LORD had appointed to defeate the good counsell of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring euill vpon Absalom.

1611 marginal noteHeb. commanded.

2 Samuel 18:3
But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Samuel 18:3 · retained source text

But the people answered, Thou shalt not goe foorth: for if we flee away, they will not care for vs, neither if halfe of vs die will they care for vs: but now thou art worth ten thousand of vs: therfore now it is better that thou succour vs out of the citie.

1611 marginal noteHeb. set their heart on vs.

1611 marginal noteHeb. as ten thousand of vs.

1611 marginal noteHeb. be to succour.

1 Kings 1:47
And moreover the king’s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 1 Kings 1:47 · retained source text

And moreouer, the kings seruants came to blesse our lorde king Dauid, saying, God make the name of Solomon better then thy name, and make his throne greater then thy throne. And the king bowed himselfe vpon the bed.

1 Kings 2:32
And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Kings 2:32 · retained source text

And the LORD shall returne his blood vpon his owne head, who fell vpon two men, more righteous and better then hee, and slew them with the sword, my father Dauid not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the sonne of Ner, captaine of the hoste of Israel, and Amasa the sonne of Iether, captaine of the hoste of Iudah.

1611 marginal note2.Sam. 3.27.

1611 marginal note2.Sam. 20.10.

1 Kings 19:4
¶ But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Kings 19:4 · retained source text

¶ But he himselfe went a dayes iourney into the wildernesse, and came and sate downe vnder a Iuniper tree: and hee requested for himselfe that hee might die, and sayd, It is enough, now O LORD, take away my life: for I am not better then my fathers.

1611 marginal noteHeb. for his life.

1 Kings 21:2
And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 1 Kings 21:2 · retained source text

And Ahab spake vnto Naboth, saying, Giue me thy vineyard, that I may haue it for a garden of herbes, because it is neere vnto my house, and I will giue thee for it a better vineyard then it: or if it seeme good to thee, I will giue thee the worth of it in money.

1611 marginal noteHebr. be good in thine eyes.

2 Kings 5:12
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · 2 Kings 5:12 · retained source text

Are not Abana and Pharpar, riuers of Damascus, better then all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be cleane? So he turned, and went away in a rage.

1611 marginal noteOr, Amana.

2 Chronicles 21:13
But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father’s house, which were better than thyself:
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · 2 Chronicles 21:13 · retained source text

But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Iudah and the inhabitants of Ierusalem to goe a whoring, like to the whoredomes of the house of Ahab, and also hast slaine thy brethren of thy fathers house, which were better then thy selfe:

Complete reference index — all 114 verses

Where “better” appears

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Source order

Definition evidence

Historical English dictionary sources

Historical definitions

With more affection; in a higher degree. More correctly, or fully. With superior excellence.

volume 1, leaf 269, column 3 (main_dictionary)