The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-25
HEBREW IN ExGLIsH WORDS.
Engiish Of the Engltah Bible-ln-
1uence In shaping Language.

uuence IN Shaping Language.
ETToHE influence exersed by the au-
Ii ;horsxed, or King James version
LII OF t2s bible. In shaping the
English language. IL universally
acknowledged 20 Ne very great In Eng
Lard, especially. when the Bible Is read
through. in course. once every year. 10 the
attendants upon the services OF the estao-
Asaed church. and where an accurate
knowledge OF its contents Is a requisite
for the granting OF a degree at the Uni
versisies OF Oxford and of Cambridge, it's
style and phraseoIogy pervade the speeca
and writing 10th OF educated men and OF
what it's transiators called the common
people" Outside Of the establishment. n
England. Scotland. the United States, and
everywhere else In the world. where the
English language prevails, an acquaintance
with TIC contents OF the Bible Il equally
general Moreover. al! English speaking
and writing peoples have accepted the
book as classic. and their scholars and
critics. without exception. agree In extoi-
ling its literary merits
The latest expression OF this universal
esteem Of the English Bible Is found in
All address delivered TO the Bodley Liter
airy Society OF Oxford, by the distin-
guished essayiEt. Mr.. Frederic Harrison.
and published In the June number OF the
Nineteenth Century. Mr.. Harrison's
theme was style in English Prose-" and,
after an extended discussion OF what a
good style is. and &c the authors to be read
in order TO obtain IL. he concluded by say
ing:
Il need hardly TO tell you to read an
Other and a greater book. The book which
begot English pEc 80 still remains Its SUI
preme type. TaG English Bible Is the true
school Of English literature. 1t possesses
every quality OF our language in its high
est forEu-except for scientific precision,
practical affairs and philosophic analysis.
1T would be ridiculous to write an essay
on metaphysics. a political article or Il
novel in the language OF the Bible. In
deed. II would he ridiculous TO write any
thing at al LIZ tx language Of the Bible.
But ii you care to know the best that our
litet can give in simple, noble prose
mark. learn and inwardIy digest the Holy
Scriptures In the English tongue"
This 10 all true, and We do not quote 1t
because of It's truth, bat because 1t does
not express the whole truth Mr.. Harr-
son, like all his predecessors. fails TO
point out the very important fac, that the
English OF the English Bible Is not pure
English. but Hebrew in English words. ana
the characteristics which give j. power
and influence are Hebrew characteristics
derived. not IN tho least from English
thought ana English modes Of expression,
but from q much more ancient and remote
source.
The parts OF the Bible most familiar To
English readers are the Old Testament
and the four Gospels The original text
of the Old Testament Is ali Hebrew, ex-
cepting few Chaidaie chapters In Dan
ieI and In Ezra. The Gospels although
they have come down To liza only In Greek
are SO Hebrew in construction and style
that many critics contend that they were
originally written in the Hebrew dialect
or tha period. and were afterwards trans
lated into Greek. When. therefore, we
read the English version OF the books of
Moses, the Histories. the Psalms. and the
Gospels. We substantially read Hebrew In
an English dress.
Hebrew being one % the Oldest lam
guages OF which any extensive literature
has survived. embo9ies the ideas Of a peo-
pie only recently emerged from the prsmi-
tive childhood 81 the race. When the He
brew Scriptures recount historical facts
they recount them In the plainest ard few
est possible words, as do our modern
story books written for children and when
they describe affections and operations OF
the mind they employ an equally simple
vocabulary. Consequently, the narratives
In the Old Testament OF the creation of
the food, Of Joseph's adventures in Egypt,
OF Uayi6's victory over Goliath, and SIM
liar events. as well aS the record OF the
sayings and doings OF Jesus recorded In
the New Testament. are a. ineligible and
interesting 10 children as they are to
adults. They are only one step In advance
of the picture writings Of the Egyptians,
IN which words are Indicated by -emblems
New York Sun.