Avouch (Hastings' Dictionary)
Dt 26"- " only, ' Thou hast a*" the Lord this day to be thy God . . . and the Lord bath a"' thee this day to be his peculiar people.' Advocare became in French first avouer, whence Eng. ' avow,' and then avochier, whence ' avouch,' the latter with a more technical meaning, ' to call on one in law as defender, guarantor,' etc. In AV avouch is scarcely to be distingui.slied from the use of ' avow ' with a person as obj. ' to acknowledge, declare to be one's own.' J. HASTINGS.
This topic also has an entry in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Both articles offer independent scholarly perspectives.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on Avouch
Avouch a-vouch': In English Versions of the Bible only in De 26:17-18, in the sense of "to confess," "avow," "publicly and solemnly declare." The Hebrew form is likewise unique (Hiph. of 'amar). ⇒See the definition of avouch in the KJV Dictionary
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]