INTRODUCTION.
The principal alterations in the language of the common version of the Scriptures, made in this edition, stated and explained.
Who is substituted for which, when it refers to persons.
Its is substituted for ji'j, when it refers toplants and things without life.
To is used for unto. This latter word is hot found in the Saxon books, and as it is never used in our present popular language, it is evidently a modern compound. The first syllable «» adds nothing to the signification or force ef to ; but by increasing the number of unimportant syllables, rather impairs the strength of the whole clause or sentence in which it occurs. It has been rejected by almost every writer, for more than a century.
Way is substituted for wherefore, when inquiry is made ; as, " why do the wicked livel" Job 31. 7.
3fy and My are generally substituted for mine and thine, when used as adjectives. The latter are wholly obsolete.
Wherein, therein, whereon, thereon, and other similar compounds, are not wholly obsolete, bat are considered, except in technical language, inelegant. I have not wholly rejected these words, but have reduced the number of them ; substituting in which, in that or this, in it, *s which, 4c.
Assemble, collect, or convene, for the tautological words gather together. In some cases, gather is retained and together omitted as superfluous. Collection for gathering together. Gen. 1. 10.
Know or knew, for wist, wit and wot. Ex. 16. 15. Gen. 31. 36, 4c.
Part for deal, as a tenth part of flour. Ex. 39. 40. Deal, in this sense, is wholly antiquated.
Bring for fetch, in most cases.
Suppose for trow. Luke 17. 9.
Falsehood for leasing. Ps. 4. 3 ; 5. 6.
Skillful for cunning, when used of persons; and curious for the same word, when applied to things. Gen. 33. 37; Ex. 36. 1, 4c.
Surely or certainly, for, " of a surety." The latter word is now used exclusively for security against loss, or for the person who gives bail for another. In the phrase of a surely, the word is now improper. Gen. 15. 13, &c.
Number for tell, when used in the sense of count. Gen. 15. 5, 4c.
Sixty tor three score, and eighty tor four score.
Two score andfive score are never used. It appears to me most eligible to retain but one mode of specifying numbers. Uniformity is prefer able to diversity. Gen. 35. 36 ; Ex. 7. 7, 4c.
Go or depart, for get thee, get ycu, get ye.
Gen. 13. 1; 19.14; 34. 10, 4c.
Evening for even and even-tide. Gen. 19. 1, &c. ,
Expire, generally for give or yield tip the ghost, Gen. 49. 33, 4c. or yield the breath. Job 11. 20; 14. 10.
Custody, in some cases, for ward. Gen. 40. 3,4c.
Perhaps or it may be, in some cases, for peradventure. Gen. 27. 13 ; 31. 31, 4c.
Cows for kine. The latter is nearly obsolete, and the former is used in several passages of the version ; it is therefore judged expedient to render the language uniform. Gen. 32. 15, 4c.
Employment or occupation for trade. The latter, as the word is now used, is improper. Gen. 46. 33. 34.
Severe, grievous or distressing, for sore, and corresponding adverbs, or bitterly for sorely.
Gen. 41. 56, 57, 4c. In some passages, a different word is used. See Gen. 19. 9; Judges 10. 9.
People or persons, for folk. Gen. 33. 15 ; Mark 6. 5, 4c.
Kinsmen for kinsfolk. Job 19. 14 ; Luke 3. 44,4c.
Male-child for man-child. Gen. 17. 10, 4c.
Interest for usury. Usury originally signified what is now called interest, or simply a compensation for the use of money. The Jews were not permitted to take interest from their brethren for the use of money loaned ; and when the Levitical law forbids the taking of usury, the prohibition intended is that of any gain or compensation for the use of money or goods. Hence, usury in the scriptures is what we call interest. The change of signification in the word usury, which now denotes unlaw ful interest, renders it proper to substitute interest for usury. Ex. 22. 25 ; Lev. 35. 36, 4c.
Hinder for let, Rom. 1.13: Restrain. 2 Thess. 2. 7.
Number for tale, when the latter has that signification. Ex. 5. 8, Ac.
Button for tache. Ex. 26. 6, 4c.
Ate, in many cases, for did eat. Gen. 3. 6 ; 27. 25, 4c.
Boiled Tot sodden. Ex. 12.9; Lev. 6. 38, &c.
Strictly for straitly. Gen. 43. 7; Ex. 13. 19; 1 Sam. 14. 38.
Staffs for staves. It seems that staves, in the translation, is used for the plural olstaff; an anomaly, I believe, in our language. The consequence is, in this country, it coincides in orthography with the plural" of slave, a piece of timber used in making casks, an entirely different word, in modern usage. I have given
