CategoryArchaic Word
Modern Equivalentcommand under oath; solemnly charge.
KJV Word TypeVerb
DefinitionTo solemnly command, bind, or require someone to answer or act under oath.
Key Verses"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ." (Matthew 26:63)
KJV Usage NoteOften carries the sense of a serious legal or religious charge, not merely a strong request.
Common MisunderstandingIt does not mean simply to ask politely; it implies solemn authority or oath-bound obligation.
EtymologyFrom Latin adjurare, meaning "to swear to" or "to bind by oath."