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Bible Encyclopedias
Vile; Villany
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Villany occurs but twice in the King James Version ( Isaiah 32:6; Jeremiah 29:23 ), and signifies emptiness or folly (so the Revised Version (British and American)). From the foregoing meanings it will be seen that the word "vile" does not always bear the meaning which has come to be invariably given it in our present-day speech. Anything common or ordinary or humble might, in the Scriptural sense, be termed "vile." So Job 40:4 , the Revised Version (British and American) "Behold, I am of small account"; also "the low estate of his handmaid" (Luke 1:48 ). Ordinarily, however, the idea of contemptible, despicable, is read into the word.
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Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. Entry for 'Vile; Villany'. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​isb/​v/vile-villany.html. 1915.