International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Ancient

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Ancient


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ān´shent: This word renders several Hebrew words: (1) קדם, ḳedhem, which denotes “beforetime,” “yore”; generally the remote past (compare , “ancient mountains”; , Kishon, the “ancient river”; “ancient kings”). (2) זקן, zāḳēn, “old” in years. Whereas the King James Version generally renders the word by “old” (or “elders” when the plural form is found) in six cases “ancient” is used and “ancients” in nine cases. See ANCIENTS. (3) עולם, ‛ōlām, which denotes “long duration” - past or future. In regard to the past it suggests remote antiquity. The connotation may be discovered in such expressions as: “the years of ancient times” (); “ancient land-mark” or “paths” (; ); “ancient people” or “nation” (; ); “ancient high places” (). (4) עתּיק, ‛attı̄q̌. This word - really Aramaic - comes from a stem which means “to advance,” i.e. in age; hence old, aged (). (5) ישׁישׁ, yāshı̄sh, literally, “weak,” “impotent,” hence decrepit aged; a rare and poetical word, and found only in Job. It is rendered “ancient” only in one instance ( the King James Version).