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
