Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: End
Subjects in this Topic:
(קץ, kÌ£eÌ„c, ×פס, 'ephesÌ£, כּלה, kaÌ„laÌ„h; τεÌλος, teÌlos, συντελεÌω, sunteleÌoÌ„): The end of anything is its termination, hence, also, final object or purpose. It is the translation of several Hebrew and Greek words, chiefly in the Old Testament of kÌ£eÌ„c (properly, “a cutting offâ€) and other words from the same root (, “The end of all flesh is come before meâ€); 'ahÌ£ărı̄th, “hinder part,†is also frequently translated “end†(; , , American Revised Version: “There is a happy end to the man of peace ... The end of the wicked shall be cut offâ€; the English Revised Version “latter end†(), margin “reward†or “future posterityâ€; ; ); sÌ£oÌ„ph (from sÌ£uÌ„ph “to come to an endâ€) is several times translated “end†(; ; ). “End†in the sense of purpose is the translation of lema‛an, “to the intent†(, “to the end thou mayest knowâ€), and of dibhraÌ„h (from daÌ„bhar, “to speakâ€); “to the end that man should find nothing after him†(the Revised Version (British and American) “should not find out anything (that shall be) after himâ€). “Ends of the earth†is the translation of 'ephesÌ£, “extremities†(; ), also of kaÌ„naÌ„ph, “wing†(; ). Other words are necahÌ£, “utmost†(), tekÌ£uÌ„phaÌ„h, “circuit,†“revolution†(; , the Revised Version, margin “revolutionâ€), etc. The verb occurs almost invariably in the phrase “to make an end,†as the translation of kaÌ„laÌ„h, “to finish,†“complete†(Gen 17:30; ; , etc.); also of naÌ„laÌ„h, “to complete†(), and shaÌ„lam, “to finish†(, ).
In , the Iteb text has חת×, hÌ£aÌ„tham, “to seal up†(“to complete or finishâ€), but the margin, followed by the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American), Driver and most moderns, has הת×, haÌ„theÌ„m, “to finish,†“end,†“complete,†a difference of one letter, but practically none in the sense, “to bring to an endâ€; compare “to finish the transgression,†which precedes.
In the New Testament the common word for “end†is telos “an end,†“completion,†“termination†(; ; , the Revised Version, margin “to the uttermostâ€; , “The end of those things is deathâ€; , “the end eternal life; , Christ is the end of the law unto righteousnessâ€; ; , etc.); eÌkbasis, “outgoing†(, the Revised Version (British and American) “issueâ€); sunteÌleia, “full end,†is used of “the end of the world†(; ); peÌras, “extremity,†“the ends of the world†(); aÌkros, “a point, end†(, “from one end of heaven to the otherâ€). End as purpose is the translation of eis toÌ, “with a view to†(; ; ; ); of eis touÌto, “unto this†(; ; ); of proÌs toÌ, “toward this†(). “To end†(verb) is pleÌ„roÌoÌ„, “to fill up†(; ); once gıÌnomai, “to become†(, “supper being ended,†which the Revised Version (British and American) corrects, giving, “during supperâ€).
For “end†the Revised Version (British and American) has “uttermost part†(, etc.), “latter end†(; the English Revised Version ; ); “issue†(, margin “latter endâ€; ); “side†(). Conversely, it has “end†for “uttermost part†(); for “side†(); for “conclusion†(); for “an end†(); “a reward,†margin “sequel†or “future,†Hebrew “latter endâ€; “final†(); for “an end of†(), “snares for†(the American Standard Revised Version “hunt forâ€); for “at one end†(), “on every quarterâ€; for “until the day and night come to an end†(), “unto the confines of light and darknessâ€; for “have an end†(), “hath fulfillment,†margin, Greek “endâ€; for “to the end for†(), “perfectly onâ€; “at the end of†for “in these last days†(); “His end was nigh†for “He died†(); “its own end,†instead of “for himself†(, margin “his own purposeâ€); “neither is there any end to†instead of “for thine iniquities are infinite†(); “to this end†for “therefore†(; ); for “for this cause,†“to this end†( twice), “unto this end†(); “to this end†for “for this purpose†(; ); “to which end†for “wherefore†(); “to the end†is inserted in bis, and several other passages. For “ends of the earth†see ASTRONOMY, III, 2.