Quick list (exact word, first verse)
These results count the exact English word in Bible order (Genesis through Revelation), case-insensitively, using BibleAV’s KJV 1769 text. Related forms such as “loved” or “merciful” are noted separately below when they appear earlier.
Evil — Genesis 2:9. Grace — Genesis 6:8. Money — Genesis 17:12. Mercy — Genesis 19:19. Love — Genesis 27:4. Sacrifice — Genesis 31:54. Forgive — Genesis 50:17.
Evil — Genesis 2:9
“Evil” first appears in the description of the tree of knowledge of good and evil: “the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” It enters Scripture in the garden, paired with good, before any human sin is narrated.
The same chapter soon pairs the word with moral choice (Genesis 2:17; 3:5, 22). Among the seven words in this article, evil is the earliest exact first occurrence.
Grace — Genesis 6:8
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Grace first describes God’s favour toward Noah in a world filled with violence, immediately before the flood account.
The word later becomes a major New Testament theme, but its first KJV use is already the language of unearned favour: Noah finds grace; he does not earn the flood’s exemption by perfecting the world.
Money — Genesis 17:12
Money first appears in the covenant of circumcision: those “bought with money of any stranger” are to be circumcised with the household. The setting is legal and household membership, not trade for its own sake.
Genesis will soon use money again in ordinary purchase (for example Abraham buying the cave of Machpelah), but the first occurrence ties money to inclusion in Abraham’s covenant people.
Mercy — Genesis 19:19
Lot says to the angelic visitors, “thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life,” as he flees the judgment of Sodom. Mercy here is deliverance from destruction.
A closely related form appears three verses earlier: “the LORD being merciful unto him” (Genesis 19:16). So the merciful character of God is stated just before the noun mercy in Lot’s plea. The exact word “mercy” first lands at 19:19.
Love — Genesis 27:4
Isaac says to Esau, “make me savoury meat, such as I love,” asking for a meal before the blessing. The first exact “love” in the KJV is ordinary affection for food—not the first biblical teaching on love, but the first appearance of that spelling.
An earlier related form is “loved”: Isaac “loved” Rebekah (Genesis 24:67). If the question is the love-word family rather than the exact token “love,” Isaac’s marriage is the earlier hit; the bare word “love” waits until the blessing episode with Esau.
Sacrifice — Genesis 31:54
“Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread.” The first exact “sacrifice” seals the covenant meal between Jacob and Laban at Mizpah after their tense parting.
Earlier Genesis scenes involve offerings (Abel’s and Cain’s gifts, Abraham’s near-offering of Isaac) without using this English noun. The word “sacrifice” itself first labels Jacob’s mountaintop offering and fellowship meal.
Forgive — Genesis 50:17
After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers send a message: “Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin.” The first exact “forgive” is a plea for pardon between brothers, grounded in their father’s God.
The verse uses “forgive” twice and links trespass, sin, and evil in one request. Joseph’s tears and later words of providence (Genesis 50:20–21) complete the first forgiveness scene in the English text.
How “first occurrence” is counted
Search is whole-word and case-insensitive on the KJV text shipped with BibleAV. Verses are ordered book by book from Genesis to Revelation. Exact spelling matters: “love” is not the same string as “loved,” and “mercy” is not the same as “merciful.”
Different English translations place first uses elsewhere because wording differs. Hebrew or Greek first occurrences follow the original languages and will not always match these English verse labels. For study of a theme rather than a string, include related forms and parallel passages.