What is…
chode in the KJV Bible

Hebrew: רִיב —transliteration: rib or rub —meaning: to chide (archaic past tense: chode) or contend (contended), strive (strove), argue (argued), dispute (disputed), quarrel (quarreled), plead (pled or pleaded)

In Middle English, this archaic English word is the past tense of the word chide. It is now more common to say “chided,” “contended,” or “rebuked”.

The word “chode” appears twice in the King James Bible translation and some old tranlations based upon it (in Genesis and Numbers). “Chode” does not appear in more recent English translations of Scripture.

And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? —Genesis 31:36 KJV

The New American Standard translation:

Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban… —Genesis 31:36 NASB excerpt

In the book of Numbers, it is reported…

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord! —Numbers 20:3 KJV

The New American Standard translation:

The people thus contended with Moses… —Numbers 20:3 NASB excerpt

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Article Version: March 14, 2023