Archaic KJV Word
Dwell
Modern equivalent: live
What Was Lost
The settling-in. 'The Word dwelt among us' (John 1:14) literally used skenoo -- 'pitched His tent among us.' God did not visit or pass through; He moved in, set up camp, and settled into the neighborhood. Dwelling was God's choice to be permanently, intimately, daily present -- not far away but next door.
Closest Survivor in Modern English
dwell (still used poetically but sounds archaic in everyday speech)
Peak Usage (1611)
KJV Psalm 23:6 -- 'I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever'; John 1:14 -- 'The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us'
Died still used but archaic-ified (~1900)
Hebrew yashav ('to sit down/settle/make your permanent home/take up residence with no intention of leaving') and Greek skenoo ('to pitch your tent/tabernacle') became archaic as English preferred 'live.' The permanence and intentionality were lost.
What Replaced It
“live”
Generic existence; dwelling was intentional, permanent, settled residence -- choosing to stay
“reside”
Administrative; dwelling carried warmth, permanence, and relational presence
“exist”
Impersonal; dwelling was personal, chosen, and intimate