Untoward (Hastings' Dictionary)
The meaning of this word is seen in the foil, quotation from the Judgement of tlie Synode at Dart, p. 32, ' All men therefore are conceived in sin, and borne the children of wrath, untoward to all good tending to salvation, forward to evil.' It occurs in Ac 2*" 'Save your- selves from this untoward generation ' (diri tti% yev€a.i t^s ffKoXtas raim]^, KV ' from this crooked generation ' ). The subst. ' untowardness ' is also found in AV in the headings to Is 28, Hos 6. 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 Untoward
Untoward un-to'-erd, un-tord' (skolios): Appears only in Ac 2:40, the King James Version "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." It means "perverse," "willful," "crooked," and is so translated in Revised Version: "this crooked generation" (apo tes geneas tes skolias tautes). the King James Version headings to Isa 28:1-29 and Ho 6:1-11 have "untowardness." This now obsolete term probably derived its orgin from the idea of the heart that was not inclined toward the divine will and teaching. Hence, "not-toward," or "untoward." ⇒See the definition of untoward 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