cherished. Incomparably better will it be that any little improvements in the way of explication, modernized diction, euphemism, &c. should be suggested in critical or popular comments, in biblical introductions, in sermons, in fact any how, rather than in the form of direct alterations of a text, as to which our instinctive prayer is 'Esto perpetua.'

The following list of obsolete or antiquated terms, it is proper to advise the reader, is taken from the earlier copies of King James' Version, and contains a considerable number which have been since altered, but by whom, or upon what authority, does not appear. Recurrence to the passages indicated will shew, however, that several of them do not now stand in our current editions, but have giver place to their more modern equivalents ranged in the parallel column. In some cases, moreover, it is not the word, but the sense, which has become antiquated.

1.-SINGLE TERMS.

earnestly, Luke, 7. 4.

sat at table, Mat. 9. 10.

Know any thing by myself know any thing against myself, 1 Cor. 4. 4.
Sat at meat

Learned Terms. In the following list of learned terms retained in the common version, it is readily admitted that several may be specified which through long use have become both familiar and intelligible, and that in regard to others it would be difficult to express their meaning well, without a tedious or clumsy circumlocution. But a simple diction is more accordant with the general style of the version, which is remarkable for its use of pure English words in preference to those of Roman origin. Thus the translators almost invariably adopt keep back for suppress ; call upon for invoke; bow down for incline; lift up for exalt; stretch out for extend; put out for extinguish; cry out for exclaim; put away for divorce; put asunder for separate; cut off for reject; let go for dismiss, &c. We cite the following instances therefore, rather as exceptions to the general practice of the translators.

Want of uniformity in Proper Names. Our translators have, in many instances, rendered from the Greek, Hebrew names with Greek terminations; and those names, thus Græcized, they have given in our translation without, if we may so say, Hebraizing them again; insomuch that it is not to be doubted, that many unlearned readers are ignorant that some of the persons spoken of by one name in the New Testament, are the same with those spoken of by another in the Old Testament. The following are examples.

Where a word ends in iah, it is peculiarly wrong thus to transform it, because in nearly every case those names have a reference to Jah or Jehovah and are compounded with it, as are those that end in el with Elohim, God.-Upon the same principles of simplicity, uniformity, and information, the words Thomas Didymus, Lucas, Marcus, and Timotheus, would be more intelligible to a common English reader, and tend more to the identifying of the persons spoken of, if they were translated Thomas the Twin, Mark, Luke, and Timothy.

Various Peculiarities.

For the sake of the English reader it may be well to group together, in tabular form, a few supplementary items tending to illustrate several points which are less obvious in a version, but which are still important to the intelligent study of the Scriptures.

Hebraisms. The Hebrew language is distinguished for the use of certain nouns which in connection with other words, form an idiomatical expression and acquire a sense that could not be collected from the known meaning of the separate terms. Of these the most remarkable are בעל Baal בן son, and which in their various connections express the relations of possession, dominion, addictedness, &c. in a manner which will best be gathered from the following examples.

man

Soul put for Person.

Ps. 106. 15. he sent leanness into their soul. (i. e. into them.)

Job, 16. 4. if your soul were in my soul's stead. (i. e. if you were in my stead.

Prov. 25. 25. to a thirsty soul. (i. e. to a thirsty person.)

Rom. 13. 1. let every soul be subject. (i e. every person.)

Acts, 2. 31. his soul was not left in hades. (i. e. he was not left.)
Mat. 12. 18. in whom my soul is well-pleased. (i. e. in whom I am well-pleased.)

Heb. 10. 38. my soul shall have no pleasure. (i. e. I shall have no pleasure.)
Gen. 19. 20. and my soul shall live. (i. e. and I shall live.)

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