his division. Secondly, the readings to be adopted were agreed upon by the whole of that company assembled together, at which meet word hath divers significations, that to be kept | translated every book which was allotted to which hath been most commonly used by the most eminent Fathers, being agreeable to the propriety of the place and the analogy of faith. 5. The division of the chapters to be altered either not at all, or as little as may be, if neing each translator must have been solely occessity so require. 6. No marginal notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek words, which cannot, without some circumlocution, so briefly and ftly be expressed in the text. 7. Such quotations of places to be marginally set down, as shall serve for the fit references of one Scripture to another." The preceding seven rules are the general directions for proceeding in the work; the rest containthe precise directions for its execution:-8. "Every particular man of each company to take the same chapter or chapters; and having translated or amended them severally by himself, where he think good, all to meet together, to confer what they have done, and agree for their part what shall stand. 9. As any one company has despatched any one book in this manner, they shall send it to the rest, to be considered of seriously and judiciously; for his majesty is very careful in this point. 10. If any company, upon the review of the book so sent, shall doubt or differ upon any places, to send them word thereof, to note the places, and therewithal to send their reasons; to which if they consent not, the difference to be compounded at the general meeting, which is to be of the chief persons of each company, at the end of the work. 11. When any place of special obscurity is doubted of, letters to be directed by authority, to send to any learned in the land for his judgment in such a place. 12. Letters to be sent from every bishop to the rest of his clergy, admonishing them of this translation in hand, and to move and charge as many aa, being skilful in the tongues, have taken pains in that kind, to send their particular observations to the company, either at Westminste 2, Cambridge, or Oxford, according as it was directed before in the king's letter to the archbishop. 13. The directors in each company to be the deans (Andrews) of Westminster, and (Barlow) of Chester for Westminster, and the king's professors in Hebrew and Greek in the two Universities. 14. These translations to be used, when they agree better with the text than the Bishops' Bible, viz. Tyndale's, Coverdals's, Matthew's, Whitchurch's, (i.e., Cranmer's) and Geneva." To these the following rule was added: Beside the said directors before mentioned, three or four of the most ancient and grave divines in either of the Universities, not employed in translating, to be assigned by the Vice-Chancellor, upon conference with the rest of the heads, to be overseers of the translation, as well Hebrew as Greek, for the better observation of the 4th rule above specified." According to these regulations, cach book passed the scrutiny of all the translators succcasively. In the first instance, each individual cupied by his own version. The book thus finished, was sent to each of the other companies to be again examined; and at these meetings it probably was, as Selden informs us, that "one read the translation, the rest holding in their hands some Bible, either of the learned tongues, or French, Spanish, Italian, etc. If they found any fault, they spoke; if not, he read on." In this way every precaution was taken to secure a faithful translation, as the whole Bible underwent at least six different revisions by the most learned men in the kingdom. The translation was commenced in the spring of 1607, and occupied about three years, and the revision of it occupied about three quarters of a year more. The revisors were two selected from each of the three groups, and the six met in London, to superintend the publication. The final correction, and the task of writing the several arguments of the several books, was given to Bilson, bishop of Winchester, and Dr. Miles Smith, the latter of whom also wrote the Dedication and Preface. It was printed in Black letter and first published in folio, in 1611, with the title: "The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New: Newly Translated out of the Originall Tongues: And with the former Translations diligently compared and reuised, by his Maiesties speciall Commandement. Appointed to be read in Churches." The expense of this translation appears not to have been borne by the king, nor by any Government Commission, but chiefly, if ne entirely, by Mr. Barker, citizen and stationer, of London, who purchased the copyright for the sum of £3,500. There was a second issue in 1611, very like the first, yet, as Mr. Fry, in the work already referred to, has shown, almost every leaf differed from it in the setting up of the type. Notwithstanding the popularity of the earlier revisions, such was the demand, that no less than six editions of this translation were published in three years. The folio editions of 1611, 1613, 1617, 1634, and 1640, are seldom found complete, as most of the copies are much mixed,-the leaves of one edition being used to complete another edition. This translation has subsequently been frequently revised with great care, and many marginal additions made, but few changes at tempted in the body of the work, any further than correcting the orthography, and examining and correcting the italics. The Bible printed at Cambridge, by Buck and Daniel, in 1638, is said to have been carefully revised, chiefly in the additions to the italics, by royal command, by Dr. Ward, Dr. Goad, Mr. Boys, Mr. Mede, and other eminent scholars. In 1656-7, Dr. Walton and other learned divines were appointed to examine this translation, with reference to a new revision; but through the political changes of the times the business proved abortive. In 1683, this translation was again corrected, and many references to parallel texts were added by Dr. Scattergood. In 1701, a very fine edition was published under the direction of Dr. Tenison, archbishop of Canterbury, with chronological dates, tables of weights and measures, etc., by Bishop Lloyd. But the most complete revision was made by Dr. Blaney, under the direction of the Vice-Chancellor and delegates of the Clarendon Press, at Oxford. In this edition, which was printed in 1769, the punctuation, italics, proper names, headings, and running titles were corrected; some material errors in the chronology were rectifled; and 30,495 new-but not always real-references were inserted in the margin. This is generally considered the standard edition of the Authorised Version. But the latest revision, made in 1851, by the committee of the American Bible Society, is the result of a careful collation of the Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Edinburgh editions; in which the italics, the capitals, the punctuation, and the headings of the chapters are corrected. In some few instances, errors of translation, and even obsolete words, are corrected. It has often been affirmed that "king James's Bible is in no part a new translation taken directly from the originals, but that it is merely a revision of the earlier English versions, and compared with various Continental translations." These remarks are not strictly correct. The translators themselves give us a correct view of the nature of their work. In their Dedication to king James, they observe:"For when your Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign languages, of many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact translation of the Holy Scriptures into the English tongue." And again, in their noble Preface, they say, "If you ask what they had before them; truly it was the Hebrew text of the Old Testament the Greek of the New. These are the two golden pipes, or rather conduits, where through the olive branches empty themselves into the gold. If truth is to be tried by these tongues, then whence should a translation be made, but out of them? These tongues there fore (the Scriptures, we say, in those tongues) we set before us to translate, being the tongues wherein God was pleased to speak to His Church by His Prophets and Apostles. ... Neither, to be short, were we the first that fell in hand with translating the Scriptures into English, and consequently destitute of former helps. . . . Neither did we think much to consult the translators or commentators, Chaldee, Hebrew, Syrian, Greek, or Latin; no, nor the Spanish, French, Italian, or Dutch; neither did we distain to revise that which we had done, and to bring back to the anvil that which we had hammered; but having and using as great helps as were needful, and fearing no reproach for slowness, nor coveting praise for expedition, we have at length through the good hand of the Lord upon us, brought the work to that pass that you see." By the unanimous voice of the most competent judges, the authorised English version of the Bible is ranked among the very best translations of this or any other book in the world. Selden says it is "the best of all translations as giving the true sense of the original." In point of fidelity, perspicuity, simplicity, energy, and dignity, it doubtless stands unrivalled. It cannot, indeed, be considered immaculate; yet, with our vastly extended critical apparatus, it might be brought up to our own times, and rendered still more perfect, and every way superior to any book of any former translation. It may be that no recent translation of even any one book of the Scriptures is equal, in all points, to the general correctness and fine heart-speaking Saxon of our good old English Bible. One of the most distinguished Biblical scholars of our times, the late Rev. Professor M. Stuart, when constrasting the English Version with the Latin Vulgate, says "Ours is, on the whole, a most noble production for the time in which it was made. The divines of that day were very different Hebrew scholars from what most of their successors have been, in England or Scotland:" Undoubtedly the translators had embarrassments thrown in their way, by the arbitrary restrictions, growing out of the prejudice, pedantry, or the caprice of the monarch by whom they were employed. At the same time, they frequently exhibit in their noble work a want of uniformity in the mode of rendering, both in regard to single words and to phrases. This, we admit, was in some degree to be expected, partly from the magnitude of the work itself, and partly from the number of persons employed in it, nor should we, perhaps, dissent from what the translators have said in justification of their not tying themselves down to an absolute "identity of phrasing." For, as they remark, it would perhaps "savour more of curiosity than wisdom, that translators should feel bound in every case to render, for example, the same Hebrew or Greek words, by purpose, never by intent; always by think, never by suppose; always by journeying, never by travelling; always by pain, never by ache; always by joy, never by gladness, etc." Yet it is obvious that a more scrupulous exactness may justly be required in a translation of the Scriptures than in any other translation; for, as Professor Bush has shown, in some of the following instances our translators have varied the terms unnecessarily, so as to deprive the reader of the signal advantages to be gained from comparing terms and phrases strictly parallel: 1.-HEBREW WORDS refuge, Deut. xxxiii. 27, wormwood, Deut. xxix. 18. sapad.. shalaq... metsudah... goim. keli...... wail, Micah i. 8. mourn, Zech. xii. 10. lament, Jer. iv. 8. cormorant, Deut. xiv. 17. pelican, Lev. xi. 18. (fort, 2 Sam. v. 9. hold, 1 Sam. xxiv. 22. stronghold, 2 Sam. v, 7. castle, 1 Chron. xi. 5. munition, Isa. xxix. 7. bulwark, Eccles. ix. 14. fortress, Psalm xviii. 2. nations, Gen. xiv. 1. Gentiles, Judges iv. 2. heathen, Jer x. 2. vessels, Isa. lii. 11. instruments, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 12. (family, Eph. iii. 15, patria......lineage, Luke ii. 4. kratistos... den, Psalm civ. 22. paraklesis rosh...... hemlock, Hos. x. 4. (gall, Ps. Ixix. 21. marturein yaanah. (owl, Job xxx. 29. diaireseis, ostrich, Lam. iv. 3. hharul.netiles, Job xxx. 7. habergeon, 2 Chron. xxvi. 14. breast plate, Isa. lix. 17. shield, Psalm xxxv. 2. buckler, 2 Sam. xxii. 31. locust, 2 Chron. vii. 13. grasshopper, Lev. xi. 22. (lintel, 1 Kings vi. 31. zah...post, Deut. vi. 9 45 { kindred, Acts iii. 25. most excellent, Luke i. 3. most noble, Acts xxiv. 3. (turn upside down, Acts xvii. 6. make an uproar, Ácts xxi. 38. trouble, Gal. v. 12. (in due time, 1 Tim. ii. 6. bear witness, John xv. 27. (diversities, 1 Cor. xii. 4. differences, 1 Cor. xii. 5. abide, Luke xxiv. 29. tarry, ibid. pity, Matt. xviii. 33. compassion, ibid. everlasting, Matt. xxv. 46. eternal, ibid. (weariness, 2 Cor. xi 27. labour, 1 Thess. ii. 9. painfulness, 2 Cor. xi. 27. travail, 1 Thess. ii. 9. 3.-HEBREW PHRASES. Rendered leabed......... {to dress, Gen. ii. 15. dain......... till, Gen. iii. 23. the pride of Jordan, Zech. xi. 3. the swelling of Jordan, Jer. xii. 5; xlix. 19; 1. 44. geaon uzzah. sum ainaim al......... tub beainaim yemai shenai hhayeik... nasaa eth yad......... uper emoon estin....... to men pneu the pride of her power, Ezek. | ungodliness; nay, they have once or twice xxx. 6. the pomp of her strength, Ezek. set eyes upon, Gen. xliv. 21. how old art thou? Gen. xlvii. the days of the years of my life, Gen. xlvii. 9. the whole age of, Gen. xlvii. 28. 4.-GREEK PHRASES. is on our part, Mark ix. 40. the spirit indeed is willing, Matt. xxvi. 41. ma prothu- the spirit truly is ready, Mark mon......... elogisthe eis dikaiosunen. eieiseleuson tai, etc..... xiv. 38. counted for righteousness, Rom. iv. 3. accounted for righteousness, Gal. iii. 6. imputed for righteousness, Jas. ii. 23. they shall not enter into my rest, Heb. iii. 11. if they shall enter into my rest, Heb. iv. 5. As the Hebrew language is distinguished for the use of certain peculiarities, especially in the use of the words baal-lord or master, ish man, and ben-son, our translators, in rendering such terms, ought to have been guided by some fixed or uniform rule. However, there are no Hebraisms in the rendering of which they have shown more diversity than those in which such terms make a part. The latter of these not only signifles a son, but is also applied to productions of every sort; and even to consequential or concomitant relations. Thus an arrow is called the son of the bow; the morning star, the son of the morning; threshed-out corn, the son of the floor; and anointed persons, the sons of oil. In rendering such phrases our translators have generally softened the Hebraism; still their usage of sons of Belial is not more intelligible than sons of valour, sons of righteousness, sons of iniquity; which they mollify into valiant men, righteous men, wicked men. Indeed if once they admitted the word Belial, they should have retained it throughout, and said a thing of Belial, a heart of Belial, a witness of Belial, the floods of Belial which, however, they render an evil disease, a wicked heart, an ungodly witness, the floods of translated a man of Belial, a wicked man. As such phrases are less obvious in a version, but are still important to the intelligent study of the Scriptures, we annex the following examples: Hebrew. Lord of dreams, Lord of arrows, Lord of words, Lord of hair, Lord of a wing, Lord of covenant, Master of anger, Masterofappetite, Master of waste, Mistress of a familiar spirit, Man of form, Man of death, Manoftheground, Man of my coun sel, Son of valour, Son of eight days, Son of beating, A Son of death, Son of a night, Horn of the son of oil, Son of the bow, Sons of pledges, Sons of flame, Common Version. Gen. xxxvii. 19, dreamer. Gen. xlix. 23, archers. Ex. xxiv. 14, man having matters. 2 Kings i. 8, an hairy man. Prov. i. 17. bird. Gen. xiv. 13. confederate. Prov. xxii. 24, angry man. Prov. xxiii. 2, given to appetite. Prov. xviii. 9, great waster. 18am.xxviii.7,a woman that hath a familiar spirit. 1 Sam. xvi. 18, a comely person. 1 Kings ii. 26, worthy of death. Gen. ix. 20, husbandman. Isa. xlvi. 11, man that ex ecuteth my counsel. 1 Sam. xiv. 52, valiant man. Gen. xvii. 12, eight days old. Deut. xxv. 2, worthy of beating. 1 Sam. xx. 31, shall surely Job xli. 28, arrow. 2 Kings xiv. 14, hostages Job v. 5, sparks. Other Hebraisms. Isa. v. 24, a tongue of fire, & rock, Ex. xiv. 30, the lip of the sea, Prov. v. 4, a sword of mouths, Psalm lv. 6, who shall give? Job v. 20, the hands of the sword, Ps. xlix. 15, the hand of the grave, Ex. ii. 5, the hand of the river, Ps. lxxvi. 3, lightnings of the bow, Ps. cxl. 5, the hand of the way, Ex. xv. 8, the heart of the sea, Job iii. 9, the eyelids of the morning, Gen. xlix. 11, the blood of grapes, a flame. a crag, or sharp pointed rock. the sea shore. a two-edged O that (optative.) the power of the sword. the power of the grave. the side of the river. arrows of the bow. the way side. the middle of the sea. the dawning of the day. red wine. Jon. iii. 3, a great city to God, 2 Cor. x.4, weapons powerful to God, Psalm lxxx. 10, cedars of God, Psalm xxxvi. 6, mountains of God, Acts vii. 20, beautiful to Gen. xxiii. 6, a prince of a very large city. weapons divinely strong. goodly or tall cedars. high mountains. exceedingly beautiful. a mighty prince. ancient and enduring hills. Soul put for person. Psalm cvi. 15, sent leanness into their soul, (ie., into them.) Job xvi. 4, if your soul were in my soul's stead, Le, if you were in my stead,) Prov. xxv. 25, to a thirsty soul, (ie., to a thirsty person.) Rom. xii. 1, let every soul be subject, (ie., every person.) Acts . 31, his soul was not left in hades, (i.e., he was not left.) Matt. xii. 18, in whom my soul is well pleased, (ie., in whom I am well pleased.) Heb. 1. 88, my soul shall have no pleasure, (ie., I shall have no pleasure.) Gen. xix. 20, and my soul shall live, (i.e., and I shall live) Peculiar use of the numbers Seven, Ten, Gen. iv, 24, if Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. Lev. xxvi. 24, will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 1 Sam. ii. 5, the barren hath borne seven. Ps. xii. 6, purifled seven times. Ps. cxix. 164, seven times a day do I praise thee. Prov. xxvi. 16, than seven men that can render a reason. 1 Kings xix. 18, seven thousand in Israel. Gen. xxxi. 41, changed my wages ten times. Lev. xxvi. 26, ten woman shall bake your bread in one oven. 1 Sam. i. 8, better to thee than ten sons. Zech. viii. 23, ten men shall take hold ... of the skirt of him that is a Jew. Num. xiv. 33, shall wander in the wilderness forty years. Ex xiv. 18, Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights. Num. xiv. 34, ye searched the land, even forty days. Dent. xxv. 3, forty stripes he may give him. 1 Kings xix. 8, in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights. Ezek, iv. 6, bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. Ex. xxiv. 1. and seventy of the elders of Israel. 2 Kings x. 1, and Ahab had serenty sons. years. Jer. xxv. 11, shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. Matt. xviii. 22, I say not unto thee, until seven times; but, until seventy times seven. The peculiarity in the Shemitish use of these numbers, as by the western Orientals, consists in their being employed not only as definite, but sometimes as sacred, and sometimes as round or indefinite numbers, signifying many, a long time, a great number. The same peculiarity is frequently connected with the term thousand. (Deut. i. 11; vii. 9; Job ix. 3; Ps. i. 10; xci. 7; Rev. xx. 2; 2 Pet. iii. 8.) The following list of obsolete or antiquated terms occurs in the authorised version; but several of them have given place to their modern equivalents in the margin. In some cases, it is not the word but the sense, which has become antiquated. Conversation Clean Coast Matt. iv. 2, and when he had fasted forty days. Gen. vii. 17, and the flood was forty days upon the earth. Graffed Habergeon Harness behaviour, 1 Tim. iv. 12. cakes, 1 Kings xiv. 3. skilful, Ex. xxxviii. 23. umpire, Job ix. 33. contest, Zech, i. 21. granary, Matt. iii. 12. grafted, Rom. xi. 17-24. armour, breastplate, Exodus xxviii. 32. in rank, Exodus xiii. 18. thus far, Job xxxviii. 11. helped, Psalm lxxxiii. 8. becoming, 2 Cor. viii. 21. drawers, Dan. iii. 21. hamstring, Josh. xi. 9. |