Page:Webster-Bible.pdf/14

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
viii
INTRODUCTION.
viii

the word its regular plural form. Ex. 25. 13 ; to express the idea, than avoid ; for a persoi may avoid evil, without intending it ; shun im 40.20,&c.

Capital for chapiter, the top of a column ; the plies intention.

latter being entirely obsolete. Ex. 36. 38 ; 38. Plant or herb, for hay. Prov. 27.25; Is. 15.6. Hay is dried grass or herbs. The nse c! 28, &c.

Fortified for fenced and defenced. Fence, hay, therefore, in the passages cited is impiv fenced, are not now used in the sense which per. What a strange expression must this ap they generally have in the present version of pear to be to a farmer in our country. " The the scriptures. As applied to cities and towns, hay appeareth, and the tender grass showei: the sense is now expressed by fortify, fortified. itself.1' Provision for victual or victuals. In the Deut. 3. 5; Num. 32. 17; Is. 36. 1, &c.

Repent for repent him. The latter form is singular number, victual is now wholly obsowholly obsolete. Deut. 32. 36 ; Ps. 90. 13, <fcc. lete ; and its signification in the plural is much

Invite for bid, when the latter has this sig more limited than that in whicn it occurs isnification. Zeph. 1.7; Matt. 22. 9 ; Luke 11. several passages of the scriptures, which extends to provisions in general, whether pre12, &c. Advanced for stricken, in age or years. Gen pared for eating or not. In present usage, Vic tuals are articles for food dressed or prepared 18. 11; Josh. 13. 1, &c. Encamped for pitched, when applied to for the table. When the word, in our version, troops, companies, or armies ; but pitched used is not thus limited, I have substituted for it of tents is retained. Ex. 17. 1 ; Num. 12. 16. provisions. Gen. 14. II ; Josh. I. 11, &c. Treated for entreated, when it signifies to Explore, in some passages, for spy out. Num use, or entertain. Gen. 12. 16; Ex. 5. 22. 13. 16; 21.32. Profane for pollute, in afew instances. See Afflict, harass, oppress, distress, or a word Is. 56. 2. 6; Jer. 34. 16. To pollute the sab of like import for vex. This word has suf bath, to pollute the name of God, are expres fered a material change or limitation, since our version of the scriptures was made. Is sions unknown in modern usage. Melted for molten, when used as a participle. that version, it is equivalent to afflict, harass, distress, grieve, in a general or indefinite Ezek.24. II; Micah 1.4. Cover for shroud. Ezek. 31. 3. sense; in modern usage, it is nearly synony Border or limit, for coast. In present usage, mous with irritate, a limited sense, I believe, coast is never used to express the border, fron not intended in any passage of scripture, un tier, or extremity of a kingdom, or district of less there may be three or four exceptions, in inland territory. Its application is wholly or which I have retained the word. Num. 23. chiefly to land contiguous to the sea. Its ap 17; 20. 15; 33. 55; Judges 10.8; Lev. 18 plication in the scriptures is, in most cases, to 18, &c. a border of inland territory. For this word I Afflict for plague. Plague, as used in our have therefore substituted, in this sense, border version, comprehends almost any calamity or limit. Deut. 19.8; Ex. 10. 14, &c. Its use that befalls man or beast. But used as a verb, in most passages of scripture is as improper it is now too low or vulgar for a scriptural now, as the coast of Worcester, in Massachu word. I have therefore used in the place of it, setts, or the coast of Lancaster, in Pennsyl afflict. Gen. 12. 17; Ex. 32. 35; Ps. 73. 5, 14. Multiply for increase. Multiply is properly vania. Creeping animal for creeping thing. The applied to numbers; increase to size, dimen word thing signifies an event, as in the phrase, sions, or quantity. Hence, in some passages " after these things." In popular usage, it is of the present version, it is improperly used, applied to almost any substance, but its appli and I have substituted for it increase. Deut. cation to an animal is improper, and vulgar. 8. 13. On the other hand, I have, when the Indeed, such application often implies con sense requires it, inserted multiply for increase. tempt. Besides, this application makes no dis Hosea 10. 1. tinction between an animal and a plant. A Killed for slew. In Daniel 3. 22, we read creeping thing is more properly a creeping that the flame of the fire slew the men that threw Shadrach and his companions into the plant, than a reptile. Gen. 1. 24. 26, &c. Food for meat. In the common English ver ftufcace. This use of slew is improper, so sion of the scriptures, meal never signifies much so, that the most illiterate man would flesh only, but food in general, provisions or perceive the impropriety of it. Slay is used whatever is eaten by animals for nourishment. to denote killing by striking with any weapon Fruits, grass, herbs, as well as flesh are denom whatever ; but we never say a man is slain by inated meat. Gen. 1. 29, 30. But the word is poison, by drowning, or by burning. This dis now used almost exclusively for flesh used or tinction proceeds from the original significa intended for food for mankind. For this word tion of slay, which was to strike. See Acts I have therefore substituted food, except in a 13.28. few cases, where the plural is used, food not Diffuse. "The lips of the wise disperse admitting the plural number. But I have re knowledge." Prov. 15. 7. To disperse is to tained meat-offering, though composed of veg dissipate or scatter so as to destroy the thing. etable substances. We have no word in use This cannot be the meaning of the author. which can be substituted for it ; and it has ac He meant to say, spread or diffuse knowledge. quired a kind of technical application, so to Careful, carefulness had formerly a more speak, which renders it expedient to retain it. intensive sense, that at present. Carefulness See Gen. 1. 29,30; Deut. 20. 20; Matt. 3. 4, is now always a virtue; formerly it had the sense of anxiety, or undue solicitude. Paul &c. Shun for eschew. Job 1. 1. 8; 2. 3; 1 Pet. says to the Corinthians, " I would have yon

3. 11. Shun seems to be a more correct word without carefulness." 1 Cor. 7. 32. But cer

—————