Debate (Hastings' Dictionary)
To debate (fr. old Fr. debatre, Lat. do down, hatuere beat) now means to discuss, and a 'd.' is a discussion, which is e.\pected to be amic- able. But in earlier Eng. ' to debate ' was to light or wrangle, and 'debate' was strife, quarrelling. Thus Gn 1 3' Geneva ' there was debate betweene the heardmen of Abrams cattell, and the heardmen of Lots cattell ' ; and Lk 12" Gov. ' Thynke ye that I am come to brynge peace upon earth— I tell you nay, but rather debate.'
In this sense only is debate used in AV, whether as vb. or subst. As vb. Pr 25' ' Debate thy cause with thy neighbour ' (so RV), and Is 27« (RV 'contend'; both 3-i = 'strive,' 'go to law'). As subst. Is .58'' (ly?, RV ' contention ') ; Sir 28 ' A sinful man disquieteth friends, and maketh d. among them that be at piace' {iKSdWet Sid^i)^ ; cf. 2 Ti 3» AVm, Tit 2» AVm, and see Makebate) ; Ro 1», 2 Co 12 {Ipit, UV ' strife '). 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 Debate
Debate de-bat': This word is used only once in the Revised Version (British and American) (Pr 25:9). It evidently refers to the settling of a difficulty with a neighbor, and anticipates Mt 18:15. It argues for and shows the advantage of private, peaceable settlement of difficulties. Compare Ecclesiasticus 28:9, and see MAKEBATES. ⇒See the definition of debate 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]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia