(2) Alternative renderings, introduced by 'Or'. These are either different meanings of the word or passage, or they serve to connect it with other renderings elsewhere.

(3) Literal renderings of the Hebrew or Aramaic, indicated by the prefix 'Heb.' or 'Aram.'

(4) Changes of text made on the authority of the ancient Versions.

(5) Readings from ancient Versions which appeared to be of sufficient importance to be noticed.

(6) Renderings of the Hebrew consonants as read with different vowel points, or as differently divided. These are introduced by the words 'Or, as otherwise read'.

(7) Marginal references to other passages, which are either strictly parallel, or serve the purpose of illustrating or justifying a particular rendering.

(8) Explanations of certain proper names, the meaning of which is referred to in the text.

In the Proper Names the Revisers have endeavoured to ascertain the system of transliteration adopted by the Translators of the Authorised Version and to carry it out with somewhat greater consistency. They have not however attempted anything like rigid uniformity, and have left unchanged all those names which by usage have become English; as, for instance, Moses, Aaron, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the like.

Among the Rules laid down by the Revision Committee of Convocation for the guidance of the Revisers was one that no change should be finally made in the text of the Authorised Version except by the vote of two-thirds of the Company present and voting; and this Rule has been invariably acted upon. The result has been that in many cases a rendering which was preferred by the majority of the Company voting has been recorded in the margin, the majority not being sufficient to give it a place in the text. But all questions of marginal readings, as well as of punctuation and division into paragraphs, except where these affected the sense of a passage, were decided by a simple majority.

It may be of some interest to describe the method observed by the Company in their work, if only to shew that every question raised was carefully and deliberately considered. In the first Revision it was the practice for the Secretary to read over each verse, first in the original and then in the Authorised Version: the proposals for change were then taken; first those communicated in writing by absent members, and next those made by the members present. Each proposal was moved, and if seconded was discussed and voted upon; the decision in the first Revision being by a majority only. If a proposal met with no seconder, it was not discussed but allowed to drop. In the second Revision, the Secretary read out in order the changes which had been made at the first Revision; if these were unchallenged they were allowed to remain, otherwise they were put to the vote and affirmed or rejected according as they were or were not supported by the requisite majority of two-thirds. In the second Revision new propositions could only be made by special permission of the Company, and discussion was limited, as far as possible, to exceptional cases. In the final review, which was in reality the completion of the second Revision, the Company employed themselves in making a general survey of what they had done, deciding finally upon reserved points, harmonizing inconsistencies, smoothing down roughnesses, removing unnecessary changes, and generally giving finish and completeness to their work. Everything in this final survey was decided by the vote of a majority of two-thirds.

The Revisers had already made some progress, and had in fact gone twice through the Pentateuch, before they secured the co-operation of the American Old Testament Revision Company. The first Revision of the several books was submitted to the consideration of the American Revisers, and, except in the case of the Pentateuch, the English Company had the benefit of their criticisms and suggestions before they proceeded to the second Revision. The second Revision was in like manner forwarded to America, and the latest thoughts of the American Revisers were in the hands of the English Company at their final review. In every

instance the suggestions from America were treated with the same consideration as those proceeding from members of the English Company, and were adopted or rejected on their merits. It was a part of the terms of agreement with the American Company that all points of ultimate difference between them and the English Revisers should be placed on record, and they will accordingly be found fully stated at the end of the Old Testament, or at the end of the several portions, according as the Revised Version appears in one or more volumes. Many of them will be found to be changes of language which are involved in the essentially different circumstances of American and English readers; others express a preference for the marginal rendering over that given in the text; others again involve a real difference of opinion; but all shew that they have been dictated by the same leading principle, the sincere desire to give to modern readers a faithful representation of the meaning of the original documents.

It could not but be expected that in the course of fourteen years many changes would take place in the members of the Company. Of the original number who first put their hands to the work on the 30th of June, 1870, only fifteen now remain. Ten of the Company have been removed by death, and two resigned: the places of these were filled from time to time by others; but since October 1875 no new members have been added. The Revision was completed in eighty-five sessions, ending on 20th June, 1884; and it occupied 792 days. The greater part of the sessions were for ten days each, and each day the Company generally sat for six hours. The labour therefore has been great, but it has been given ungrudgingly; and now with a feeling of deep thankfulness to Almighty God, and the earnest hope that their endeavours may with His blessing tend to a clearer knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, the Revisers bring their long task to a close.

JERUSALEM CHAMBER,

WESTMINSTER ABBEY,
10 July, 1884.

OF

DIACRITICAL MARKS AND FOOT-NOTES.

I. Renderings Introduced by the Revisers.

1. Parallels (1-1) inclose: (a) substituted words; (b) substituted and added words conjoined; (c) added words occupying the places of words excluded.

2. Upright dashes ('-') inclose added words occurring apart from substitutions, in places not formerly occupied by words excluded.

3. A section-mark (§), occurring only in the text, precedes renderings derived from the Margin of 1611.

Note A.-MARGINAL RENDERINGS (preceded always by "Or "), if uninclosed and occurring neither in the text nor in the Foot-notes, will be found in the Margin of 1611.

4. A Curve after a verse-numeral denotes a changed order of uninclosed words in the text.

II. Renderings Excluded from the Text by the Revisers: comprising the Foot-notes marked "Version of 1611."

5. Uninclosed words comprise: (a) those excluded by substitution; (b) immediately adjoining renderings excluded without substitution.

6. Parentheses inclose words unconnected with those excluded by substitution. Note B.- In THE PSALMS, words excluded from the Superscriptions are, in the Foot-notes, bracketed.

Note C.-The number of words of every Foot-note is given in brackets at the end.

III. Simple Exclusion (a). Verse Beginning (b). Preferences of American Committee (c).

7. (a) A Curve before a verse-numeral denotes exclusion without substitution, and relates solely to the parenthetic matter in the Foot-notes.-Occurring before a chapter-numeral (in the New Testament only), it denotes the cancellation of an entire verse. From MARK ix. two verses thus disappear.

Note D.-The Curve, occurring both before and after the same verse-numeral, has in each position only its individual significance, as explained above (“7” and “4”). 8. (b) A Degree-sign (°) · except in the portions printed in poetical form

marks the beginning of verses that do not begin paragraphs.

9. (c) An Asterisk (*) precedes the numeral of every verse specifically designated in the Revisers' "Appendix," at the end of the Old Testament, and in the "List of readings and renderings preferred by the American Committee, recorded at their desire," at the end of the New Testament.

"DIACRITICAL" (= "Separating or distinguishing; indicating something to be distinguished;' Distinguishing by a point or mark") is used in connection with this work in the belief that no other English word so well describes an edition of the Revised Bible, in which to say nothing of its other helpful devices every word introduced, and every word excluded, by the Revisers, may be distinguished at a glance.

THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, COMMONLY CALLED

GENESIS.

1 Or, Iwas brooding upon 3 Heb. swarm with swarms of living Heb. expanse.

VERSION OF 1611.-I. 2 without form; 5 the.. the.. were the first; 8 the..the.. were the; 11 bring..(the).. (the). . yielding.. his.. whose. . in itself; 12 (and).. his (the).. yielding. . whose ..was in itself.. his; 13 the..the.. were the; 19 the.. the.. were the; 20 that may; 21 whales.. kind..his; 23 the..the.. were the; 24 his.. his; 25 his.. his; 27 So. =[50]