Page:Webster's Revision Bible.djvu/15

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INTRODUCTION.
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to Mary, where it is rendered Hail, and in Matt. 2s. 9, All kail. But God speed, as now used, is as improper as God welfare, God suc cess, or God happiness. In a grammatical point of view, nothing can be more absurd; it is neither grammar nor sense. And it is to be regretted, that such an outrage upon propriety continues to be used in discourse. Prevent. This word is many times used in the version, but not in the sense in which it is now universally used. Indeed, so different are its scriplural uses, that probably very few readers of common education understand it. I have had recourse to the ablest expositors, English and German, to aid me in expressing the sense of the word in the several passages in which it is used. 2 Sam. 22. 6; Job 3. 12; and30.27; Ps. 18.5,18; 21.3; 59.10; 119. 147,148; Isa. 21. 14. Take no thought. It is probable that this phrase formerly had a more intensive signifi cation than it has at present. In Matt. 6. 25, 27, 31,34, the phrase falls far short of the force, or real meaning of the original. I have ex pressed the idea by Be not anxious. So in Luke 12. 22, 26. By and by. This phrase as used in the scriptures denotes immediately, without an in terval of time. In present usage, it seems rather to indicate soon, but not immediately. Matt. 13. 21 ; Luke 17. 7; and 21. 9. Presently. This word in the scriptures sig nifies immediately. Matt. 21. 19. Insane for mad. In our popular language, mad more generally signifies very angry, which is not always its signification in the common version. I have therefore, in some instances expressed the sense by insane or en raged, words less likely to be misapprehended by our common people than mad. John 10. 20; Acts 12, 15; and 26. 11, 24; 1 Cor. 14. 23. Healed for made whole. When persons re cover from sickness, we never say they are made whole. This phrase is proper only when some part of the body is broken. John 5. 6. Whole is not the proper word to be set in oppo sition to sick. It should be well orin health. Matt. 9. 12. Conversation. This word, in our version, never has the sense of mutual discourse, which is its signification in present usage. It now retains the signification it had formerly, chiefly as a technical law term, as in indentures, lis sense in the Bible comprehends the whole moral conduct in social life, and 1 have used in the place of it manner of life, or deport ment, chiefly the former, as deportment, in or dinary use, is, perhaps, not sufficiently com prehensive. When it occurs, however, it is intended to embrace all that is understood by manner of life, or course of conduct. Ps. 37. 14; 2 Cor. 1. 12; Gal. 1. 13, &c. Offend. 1 have, in some passages, substi tuted for this word, the words, cause to sin, or to fill into tin. In other places I have ex plained it in a marginal note. Cftsc vessel for bushel. Matt. 5. 15, &c. There is now, 1 believe, no vessel of the measure of a bushel, in common use. The Jews used lamps, not candles, which sweb a measure would extinguish. I have, therefore, substi tuted close vessel. Vessel is used Luke 8. 16. Agitate, or stir, for trouble. The application

of trouble to water or other substance, in the sense of stirring, is wholly obsolete. John 5 4, 7 ; Ezek. 32. 2 ; Prov. 25. 26. Yet from the scriptures we retain the phrase " troubled wa ters." Travail, with this orthography, is now used only or chiefly for the labor of child-birth, h other senses, I have substituted for it labor, ot toil. Eccl. 1. 13 ; 2. 23 ; 1 Thess. 2. 8. Hungry for an hungred. Matt. 25. 35, Sec. Convicted for convinced. James 2. 9. Set also John 8. 46 ; Jude 15. Strain put a gnat. Matt. 23. 24. The words in our version are " strain at a gnat." It is un accountable that such an obvious error should remain uncorrected for more than two centu ries. The Greek signifies to strain out a gnat, as by passing liquor through a colander or t filter. It is not a doubtful point. At may have been a misprint for out, in the first copies. Foresaw, in Acts 2. 25, is a mis-translation. The sense is not saw beforehand, but before in place, or inpresence. I have omitted the pre fix, fore. The propriety of this is determined by the original passage. Ps. 16. 8. Constrain, for compel. Matt. 5. 41. Compel may or does imply physical force ; constrain implies moral as well as physical force, and this seems to be the most proper word. Froward, Ps. 18. 26, appears to me improp erly applied to the Supreme Being. In its present signification, it seems to be not merely harsh, but irreverent, and incorrect. I have therefore substituted for it, thou wilt contend. See also 2 Sam. 22. 27. Earnestly for ins!a ntly. Luke 7. 4. Man (or fellow. The latter word is several times inserted in our version, without any au thority in the original : it implies contempt, which may have been felt, but a translator should not. I think, add to the original what is not certainly known to have been the fact. I have in the place of it inserted man. Gen. 19.9; Malt. 12. 24, &c. Body of soldiers. The troops with which Claudius rescued Paul, Acts 23. 27, cannot be called an army, as the word is now understood. Many people are the words substituted for much people. Numb. 20. 20; Mark 5. 21, &c. The door shall be opened. Matt. 7. 7. The word door is not in the original, but is necessa rily implied in the verb. Staff. Matt. 10. 10. The original Greek word is in the singular number. Master of the house. Luke 22. 11. The phrase, good man of the house, is not warranted by the original, which signifies master of the house. At the time the Bible was translated, it was customary to call men by the title, good man, instead of Mr. It is seen on the records of the first settlers in New England; but if it was ever proper in our version, which can hardly be admitted, it is now improper. Sal at meat. This phrase is improper on more accounts than one. The ancients did not sit at table, but lay down or reclined on the left elbow. I have retained the word sit or sat, however, but have inserted in the margin as explanatory note. At meat, is obsolete, and I have substituted at table or eating. Foreign for strange. The latter word often signifies foreign or not native, and in a few in stances 1 have substituted for it foreign. la