Read the Bible

KJV dictionary & concordance

but

Meaning of “but”

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Definition sources

KJV context and cross-referencesSkeat 1893Webster 1828
3,994 occurrences3,751 verses66 booksKJV PCE

Some verses contain the word more than once.

First occurrence: Genesis 2:6

Complete exact-word concordance

Every verse containing “but”

KJV PCE

Remembering a verse with different wording? Find a verse across the Bible →

Showing verses 1–6 of 6 · 6 word occurrences in this result

Ruth 1:14
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 1:14 · retained source text

And they lift vp their voyce, and wept againe: and Orpah kissed her mother in law, but Ruth claue vnto her.

Ruth 1:17
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 1:17 · retained source text

Where thou diest, wil I die, and there will I bee buried: the LORD doe so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 2:8
Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 2:8 · retained source text

Then said Boaz vnto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Goe not to gleane in another field, neither goe from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.

Ruth 3:3
Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 3:3 · retained source text

Wash thy selfe therefore, and annoint thee, and put thy raiment vpon thee, and get thee downe to the floore: but make not thy selfe knowen vnto the man, vntill hee shall haue done eating and drinking.

Ruth 3:13
Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth: lie down until the morning.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading
1611 witness · Ruth 3:13 · retained source text

Tary this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if hee will performe vnto thee the part of a kinseman, well, let him doe the kinsemans part; but if hee will not doe the part of a kinseman to thee, then will I doe the part of a kinseman to thee, as the LORD liueth: lie downe vntill the morning.

Ruth 4:4
And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.
1 word occurrence in this verse
The 1611 reading & marginal notes
1611 witness · Ruth 4:4 · retained source text

And I thought to aduertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the Elders of my people. If thou wilt redeeme it, redeeme it, but if thou wilt not redeeme it, then tell mee, that I may know: for there is none to redeeme it, besides thee, and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeeme it.

1611 marginal noteHeb. I said I wil reueale in thine eare.

Reference index — this page of 3,751 verses

Use the concordance pages above to reach every reference.

Where “but” appears

Select a book to filter the concordance. Occurrences and verses are counted separately.

Genesis103 occurrences
101 verses
Exodus70 occurrences
68 verses
Leviticus78 occurrences
75 verses
Numbers87 occurrences
84 verses
Deuteronomy98 occurrences
95 verses
Joshua59 occurrences
57 verses
Judges74 occurrences
67 verses
Ruth6 occurrences
6 verses
1 Samuel118 occurrences
108 verses
2 Samuel87 occurrences
83 verses
1 Kings90 occurrences
84 verses
2 Kings90 occurrences
85 verses
1 Chronicles47 occurrences
45 verses
2 Chronicles94 occurrences
87 verses
Ezra12 occurrences
11 verses
Nehemiah30 occurrences
28 verses
Esther20 occurrences
19 verses
Job77 occurrences
72 verses
Psalms182 occurrences
172 verses
Proverbs245 occurrences
243 verses
Ecclesiastes29 occurrences
28 verses
Song of Solomon11 occurrences
8 verses
Isaiah133 occurrences
119 verses
Jeremiah183 occurrences
170 verses
Lamentations5 occurrences
5 verses
Ezekiel109 occurrences
104 verses
Daniel71 occurrences
65 verses
Hosea24 occurrences
23 verses
Joel3 occurrences
3 verses
Amos21 occurrences
20 verses
Obadiah2 occurrences
2 verses
Jonah8 occurrences
8 verses
Micah13 occurrences
10 verses
Nahum4 occurrences
3 verses
Habakkuk4 occurrences
4 verses
Zephaniah5 occurrences
4 verses
Haggai5 occurrences
2 verses
Zechariah17 occurrences
16 verses
Malachi10 occurrences
9 verses
Matthew237 occurrences
219 verses
Mark127 occurrences
117 verses
Luke175 occurrences
167 verses
John199 occurrences
189 verses
Acts144 occurrences
140 verses
Romans127 occurrences
121 verses
1 Corinthians169 occurrences
148 verses
2 Corinthians86 occurrences
75 verses
Galatians51 occurrences
50 verses
Ephesians25 occurrences
25 verses
Philippians30 occurrences
27 verses
Colossians6 occurrences
6 verses
1 Thessalonians22 occurrences
21 verses
2 Thessalonians8 occurrences
8 verses
1 Timothy26 occurrences
25 verses
2 Timothy25 occurrences
24 verses
Titus11 occurrences
10 verses
Philemon6 occurrences
4 verses
Hebrews61 occurrences
59 verses
James23 occurrences
19 verses
1 Peter34 occurrences
32 verses
2 Peter16 occurrences
15 verses
1 John24 occurrences
22 verses
2 John4 occurrences
4 verses
3 John5 occurrences
4 verses
Jude6 occurrences
5 verses
Revelation23 occurrences
22 verses

Source order

Definition evidence

Historical English dictionary sources

Historical definitions

Except; besides; unless. Only. More; further; noting an addition to supply what is wanting to elucidate or modify the sense of the preceding part of a sentence, or to exhibit a contrast.

volume 1, leaf 327, column 1-3 (main dictionary)