Question 1

What does "Furniture" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Furniture" means "equipment." Rachel hid stolen idols in the camel's furniture -- the saddlebags and packing gear loaded on the animal. Modern readers picture Rachel stuffing teraphim behind a sofa. The tabernacle's furniture was its sacred equipment: the ark, the lampstand, the altar -- functional worship instruments, not decoration.

Question 2

Why did the word "Furniture" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Narrowed from 'equipment/fittings/provisions/gear' (French fourniture 'supplies') to 'household tables and chairs,' domesticating a word that once meant full outfitting for any purpose. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by ~1800.

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Furniture"?

Accepted Answer

"Furniture" was replaced by: "equipment" (though this military/industrial; furniture-as-equipment covered personal gear, saddlebags, provisions); "furnishings" (though this decorative; the original furniture was functional gear for travel, worship, or war); "supplies" (though this consumable; furniture-as-gear meant durable equipment you carried and used).

What Does “Furniture” Mean in the Bible?

What Was Lost