Altogether
Understanding 'Altogether' in Biblical Translation
The English word 'altogether' appears in various Bible translations to render multiple Hebrew and Greek terms, each carrying distinct shades of meaning. Unlike modern usage where 'altogether' typically means 'completely' or 'entirely,' biblical usage encompasses several concepts including collective unity, totality, and completeness. These translations help convey important theological concepts about human nature, divine action, and community relationships.
Key Hebrew Words and Their Meanings
Several Hebrew terms are translated as 'altogether' in English Bibles. The word yachad (יַחַד) appears in Psalms 53:3, where the psalmist declares that 'everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt.' This emphasizes collective human sinfulness, not just individual failures but a shared condition of moral corruption. Similarly, in Psalm 62:9, the same term describes humanity 'altogether lighter than vanity' when weighed in God's balance, highlighting universal human insufficiency before God.
Another significant term is kālâ (כָּלָה), meaning 'complete' or 'finished.' In 2 Chronicles 12:12, God declares he will not 'destroy Judah altogether' despite their sins, showing divine mercy that limits judgment. This concept of completeness appears in Exodus 11:1 regarding Pharaoh's final refusal, where God's judgment becomes total and decisive.
Greek Terms and New Testament Usage
In the New Testament, Greek terms translated as 'altogether' carry forward similar themes. The phrase holōs (ὅλως) appears in John 9:34, where religious leaders dismiss the healed blind man with 'You were altogether born in sins.' This reflects a judgment about complete spiritual corruption from birth. In 1 Corinthians 5:10, Paul clarifies that Christians shouldn't avoid immoral people 'altogether' (using pantōs, πάντως), recognizing the impossibility of complete separation from sinful humanity while living in the world.
A particularly challenging translation occurs in Acts 26:29, where Paul tells King Agrippa he wishes 'all who hear me this day might become such as I am, except for these chains.' Some translations render the Greek en megalō (ἐν μεγάλῳ) as 'altogether,' while others prefer 'with much' or 'completely,' highlighting the difficulty of capturing Paul's intensity in wishing for universal conversion.
Theological Themes and Development
The various uses of 'altogether' reveal important theological developments. In the Old Testament, the term often emphasizes collective human responsibility and shared condition before God. The Psalms particularly use it to describe universal human tendencies toward sin and vanity. By the New Testament, the concept evolves to address questions of Christian separation from the world while maintaining engagement with it, as seen in Paul's careful distinctions in 1 Corinthians.
Translation History and Challenges
The translation of these terms has evolved significantly. The King James Version frequently used 'altogether' where modern translations like the Revised Standard Version and New International Version often substitute 'together,' 'completely,' or 'entirely' for clarity. For instance, Jeremiah 10:8's description of idol worshipers becoming 'altogether brutish' in the KJV becomes 'they are all a dull senseless crowd' in modern translations. These changes reflect ongoing efforts to communicate the original languages' meanings to contemporary readers while maintaining theological precision.
Biblical Context
The term 'altogether' appears across both Testaments, representing various Hebrew and Greek words. In the Old Testament, it frequently occurs in Psalms (53:3; 62:9), prophetic books (Jeremiah 10:8; 30:11), and historical narratives (2 Chronicles 12:12; Genesis 18:21). These instances typically emphasize collective human conditions, complete divine actions, or total states of being. In the New Testament, occurrences in John 9:34, 1 Corinthians 5:10, and Acts 26:29 address spiritual conditions, Christian ethics, and evangelistic passion. The term serves as a translational bridge for concepts of totality, completeness, and unity throughout Scripture.
Theological Significance
The various uses of 'altogether' reveal important theological truths about human nature, divine judgment, and community. The emphasis on humanity being 'altogether' corrupt or vain (Psalm 53:3; 62:9) underscores the biblical doctrine of universal human sinfulness, not merely individual failures but a shared condition affecting all people. Conversely, God's promise not to destroy 'altogether' (2 Chronicles 12:12; Jeremiah 30:11) demonstrates divine mercy that limits judgment. The New Testament usage further develops these themes, showing how Christians must navigate being 'in the world but not of it'-neither separating 'altogether' from sinful humanity nor participating in its corruption.
Historical Background
The translation challenges surrounding 'altogether' reflect broader historical developments in Bible translation. The 1611 King James Version frequently employed 'altogether' for various Hebrew and Greek terms, following earlier English translations like the Geneva Bible. By the late 19th century, translation committees recognized that English usage had evolved, and many instances of 'altogether' were better rendered as 'together,' 'completely,' or 'entirely' in revisions like the Revised Version (1885) and American Standard Version (1901). These changes reflected both linguistic scholarship and efforts to make Scripture more accessible to contemporary readers while maintaining fidelity to the original languages.