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Solemn; Solemnity
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
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sol´em , sṓ - lem´ni - ti : The word "solemn" had (1) at first the meaning "once in the year," through its derivation from Latin sollus , "whole," annus , "year." As, however, a regular annual occurrence is usually one of particular importance, the word took on (2) the meaning "ceremonious." From this is derived (3) the usual modern force of "grave" in opposition to "joyous." This last meaning is not in Biblical English, and the meanings of "solemn" in English Versions of the Bible are either (1) or (2). Nor is there any certain case of (1), for the word is always a gloss in English Versions of the Bible and, although frequently introduced in references to annual events ( Leviticus 23:36 , etc.), it is even more often used where "annual" is foreign to the passage (2 Kings 10:20; Psalm 92:3 , etc.). The use of the word in the King James Version is unsystematic. It is always (except in Jeremiah 9:2 ) found in conjunction with "assembly" when (10 times) the latter word represents ‛ăcārāh (‛ăcereth ) (Leviticus 23:36 , etc.) (retained by the Revised Version (British and American) with margin "closing festival," Leviticus 23:36; 2 Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18 ). the King James Version uses "solemnity" or "solemn day," "feast," etc., 17 times for the very common word mō‛ēdh ("appointed" time, etc.). See FEAST .
RV's treatment of these passages defies analysis. "Solemnity" is kept in Isaiah 33:20; Ezekiel 46:11 , and "solemn" in Lamentations (4 times); Hosea (3 times); Zephaniah 3:18 . In Ezekiel 36:38; Ezekiel 45:17; Ezekiel 46:9 it is replaced by "appointed," elsewhere (and for mō‛ădhōth , 2 Chronicles 8:13 ) by "set." The margins further complicate the renderings. the King James Version also uses "solemn" with ḥagh , "feast," 4 times, and with ḥāghagh , "keep a feast," in Deuteronomy 16:15 . The word is dropped by the Revised Version (British and American), except the English Revised Version in Psalm 81:3 . Finally, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) have "solemn sound" for higgāyon , in Psalm 92:3 . The context, however, demands "resounding melody." And 11 times the Revised Version (British and American) has introduced "solemn" to represent the intensive in the form shabbath shabbāthōn (Exodus 16:23 , etc.), where the King James Version has simply "sabbath" or "sabbath of rest." the Revised Version (British and American) here has imitated the adverbial "solemnly" in the similar intensified expressions in Genesis 43:3; 1 Samuel 8:9 .
The Revised Version (British and American) Apocrypha translates en hēmérais kairoú , "in the days of the season" ( Baruch 1:14 ), by "on the days of the solemn assembly" (the King James Version "solemn days"), and both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) have "solemn feast days" for dies festos (2 Esdras 1:31). Otherwise the King James Version's use of "solemn" is dropped by the Revised Version (British and American).
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Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Solemn; Solemnity'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/isb/s/solemn-solemnity.html. 1915.
