Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Wist; Witty; Wot
Subjects in this Topic:
wist, wit´i, wot: The verb “to wit†in the King James Version is interchangeable with “to know,†and is conjugated with a present “wot,†and a past “wist.†This inflection is derived from more complicated forms in the older English, and in post-Elizabethan times has become quite obsolete. (But compare the roots in “wisdom,†“witness.â€) “Wit,†then, is simply “knowledge,†and “witty†is “having knowledge,†although the noun and the adjective have become narrowly specialized in modern English (compare the similar evolution of “knowing,†in its use as an adjective). Even in Elizabethan English, however, the indicative of “to wit†was becoming displaced by “know,†and “wot†and “wist†together occur only 24 times in the King James Version (not at all in Apocrypha). the English Revised Version has retained all the New Testament examples, but in the Old Testament has altered about half the occurrences to “know,†but has followed no discoverable rule in so doing (“wot†retained only in ). the American Standard Revised Version has changed to “know†throughout (Old Testament and New Testament). The infinitive “to wit†is still in use (chiefly in legal formulas) before an apposition, and the King James Version has introduced it rather frequently to clarify a construction (; , etc.), and the Revised Version (British and American) has usually retained it (omitted in ; ). In the other uses of this inf. (; ) it is replaced by “to know,†while the very obsolete expression in , the King James Version “We do you to wit†(i.e. “We cause you to knowâ€), has become in the Revised Version (British and American) “We make known unto you.â€
The noun “wit†is found in , “at their wits' (the King James Version “wit'sâ€) end,†for חכמה, hÌ£okhmaÌ„h, “wisdom,†“technical skillâ€; compare the Revised Version margin “All their wisdom is swallowed up.†The meaning is “their skilled seamanship cannot cope with the danger†(the phrase is very commonly misapplied). “Wit†occurs also 1 Esdras 4:26 (διαÌνοια, diaÌnoia, “mindâ€); 2 Esdras 5:9 (sensus, here “intelligenceâ€); Sirach 31:20 (ψυχηÌ, psucheÌ„Ì, “soul,†with the force of “reasonâ€).
Witty is found in the King James Version, the Revised Version margin , “witty inventions†(מזמּה, mezimmaÌ„h, “discretion†(so the Revised Version (British and American)); if “and†is not read in this verse, translate “discrete knowledgeâ€). In Judith 11:23 occurs “witty in thy words†(ἀγαθοÌÏ‚, agathoÌs, “good,†here probably = “thou hast spoken sound senseâ€). The Wisdom of Solomon 8:19 the King James Version has “a witty child,†the Revised Version (British and American) “a child of parts,†margin “goodly†(εὐφυηÌÏ‚, euphueÌ„Ìs, “well grown,†“of a good disposition,†“cleverâ€). “Wittingly†occurs in (שׂכל, saÌ„khal, “act intelligentlyâ€).