Abbreviation or the use of one or two initials for the whole of a word. These first occur, in a Scriptural connection, on some of the Maccabaean coins (Bayer, De nummis Hebraeo-Samaritanis), and in a few MSS. of the O.T. (especially י8י8 for יהוָֹה). They have been frequently resorted to for the purpose of explaining supposed discrepancies or various reading, both in words (Eichhorn, Einleit. ins A. T. 1:323; Drusius, Quaest. Ebraic. 3, 6) and numbers (Vignoles, Chronologie. pass.; Capellus, Critica Sacra, 1:10; Scaliger, in Walton's Prolegomena, 7:14; Kennicott's Dissertations), on the theory that letters were employed for the latter as digits (Faber, Literae olim pro vocibus adhibitoe, Onold, 1775), after the analogy of other Oriental languages (Gesenius, Gesch. d. fleb. Sprache, p. 173). In later times the practice became very common with the Rabbins (Selig's Compendia vocum Hebraico - Rabbinicarum; also Collectio abbreviaturarum Hebraicarum, Lpz., 1781), and was abused for cabalistical purposes (Danz, Rabbinismus Enucleatus). An instance of its legitimate numerical use occurs in Re 13:18 (Eichhorn, Einleit. ins N.T. 4:199), and the theory has been successfully applied to the solution of the discrepancy between Mr 15:25, and Joh 19:14 (where the Greek γ [gamma=3] has doubtless been mistaken for ς [stigma= 6]).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More