By and by
A Misleading Phrase
Few phrases in older Bible translations are more likely to mislead modern readers than "by and by." Today, this expression means "eventually" or "at some future time." But in the English of the 1500s and early 1600s, when the major English translations were being produced, "by and by" meant "immediately" or "at once." This complete reversal of meaning makes it one of the most significant archaic expressions in the King James Version.
New Testament Occurrences
The phrase appears in four places in the King James Version of the New Testament, each translating a Greek word meaning "immediately" or "straightway." In Mark 6:25, Herodias's daughter came in "by and by" with her request for John the Baptist's head, meaning she came in immediately, not after a delay. In Matthew 13:21, the person who received the word with joy but falls away "by and by" when trouble comes does so immediately, not gradually. Luke 17:7 describes a servant returning from the field, with the master not saying "by and by" (immediately) sit down to eat. And in Luke 21:9, Jesus warns that wars and commotions must come, but "the end is not by and by," meaning not immediately.
The Greek Words Behind the Phrase
The Greek words translated as "by and by" are all terms of urgency and immediacy. "Exautes" (Mark 6:25) means "at once" or "forthwith." "Euthus" (Matthew 13:21) means "straightway" or "directly." "Eutheos" (Luke 17:7; 21:9) carries the same sense of "immediately." Modern translations consistently render these words as "immediately," "at once," or "straightway," correcting the now-misleading "by and by."
Why Words Change Meaning
The shift in meaning of "by and by" is a textbook example of semantic change in language. In Middle English and Early Modern English, the phrase literally meant "by [this moment] and by [the next]," implying events happening one right after another with no gap. Over the centuries, the emphasis shifted from the immediacy of sequence to the indefiniteness of the future, until the phrase came to suggest delay rather than speed. This process was already underway by the 18th century.
Implications for Bible Reading
This example underscores the importance of reading Scripture with awareness of how language has evolved. A reader who encounters "by and by" in the KJV and applies the modern meaning will misunderstand the urgency that the original Greek conveys. The parable of the sower in Matthew 13:21, for instance, teaches that shallow faith collapses immediately under pressure, not gradually over time. Getting this right affects the theological point of the passage.
Biblical Context
The phrase 'by and by' appears in the KJV at Mark 6:25 (Herodias's daughter's request), Matthew 13:21 (the parable of the sower), Luke 17:7 (the servant returning from the field), and Luke 21:9 (signs of the end times). In each case, the underlying Greek word means 'immediately' or 'at once,' making the modern meaning of the phrase directly contrary to the biblical intent.
Theological Significance
Correctly understanding 'by and by' as 'immediately' affects the interpretation of several passages. In the parable of the sower, it reveals how quickly shallow faith can collapse under trial. In Luke 21:9, Jesus corrects the assumption that wars signal an immediate end, teaching patience and perseverance. The urgency conveyed by the original Greek words often carries theological weight about the swift unfolding of God's purposes.
Historical Background
The semantic shift of 'by and by' from 'immediately' to 'eventually' occurred gradually in English between the 16th and 19th centuries. The phrase's original meaning is well documented in Early Modern English literature. The King James Version translators in 1611 used it in its contemporary sense of immediacy. By the time this meaning became obsolete in common speech, the KJV's language had already become archaic, contributing to systematic misreadings among later generations of readers.