Reverend by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 29, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 17.

Reverend

By Editor

No. 540. “Reverend.”

FROM what or whence is the word “reverend” derived, and what was its original signification? R. G. W. C.

“Reverend” comes from the word “revere,” to venerate, regard with awe, stand in fear of. It comes from the Latin “revereor,” to stand in awe of. The word is akin to worship, but its common use has been shaded down to mean respect. It was probably first applied to aged and venerable ministers, and from that it came to be applied to all ministers. The word “reverend” occurs but once in our English Bible, and is there applied to the name of the Lord (Ps. 111:9); but the original Hebrew word, yare, occurs many times. It is translated “reverence” in Lev. 19:30; 26:2; Ps. 89:7, where it is applied to the sanctuary and to God; and in Gen. 20:8; 28:17; 43:18; Ex. 34:30; Num. 22:3; Deut. 2:4; Joshua 9:24, and many other places, it is translated “afraid”—having reference to both God and man. The words in the New Testament rendered “reverence” are three in number, of kindred meaning, but weaker.