Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Virtue" means "power." The inseparable link between moral character and actual power. When Jesus said virtue went out of Him, the word conveyed that His moral perfection was itself a force -- holiness was not passive goodness but active, tangible energy that could heal.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Narrowed from 'power/force/excellence' (Latin virtus, from vir 'man/strength') to 'moral goodness,' severing the connection between moral character and actual power. The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by ~1900.

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Virtue"?

Accepted Answer

"Virtue" was replaced by: "power" (though this morally neutral; virtue-as-power meant that genuine goodness carried inherent force); "healing energy" (though this new age overtones; virtue was specifically moral power that produced physical effects); "moral excellence" (though this abstract and passive; virtue implied that excellence was an active, outflowing force).

What Does “Virtue” Mean in the Bible?

What Was Lost