Or
An Archaic English Usage
Modern English speakers know "or" exclusively as a conjunction offering alternatives: this or that. However, in the English of the King James era and earlier, "or" had an additional meaning that has since fallen out of common use. When combined with "ever" (as in "or ever"), it meant "before," serving the same function as the word "ere." This usage can be confusing for readers encountering it in older Bible translations without understanding the shift in meaning.
The archaic sense of "or" as "before" derives from Anglo-Saxon and Middle English, where the word had temporal significance. Poets continued to use it long after it disappeared from everyday speech, but for modern Bible readers, recognizing this meaning is essential for understanding several key passages.
Or Ever: Before All Time
The most theologically significant use of this archaic "or" appears in Psalm 90:2, attributed to Moses: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." Here "or ever" means "before," and the verse proclaims God's eternal existence prior to creation. Modern translations render this simply as "before."
This passage establishes one of the most fundamental truths in Scripture: God existed before all created things. He is not part of the created order but stands outside and above it as the eternal, self-existent Creator.
Or in Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon
Ecclesiastes 12:6 uses "or" in the sense of "before" when describing the approach of death: "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken." The entire passage (Ecclesiastes 12:1-7) is an extended metaphor for aging and death, urging readers to remember their Creator "before" these things happen. Modern translations replace "or ever" with "before" throughout.
Song of Solomon 6:12 contains another instance: "Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib." This verse, one of the most difficult in the entire book, describes a sudden, unexpected experience. The "or ever" means "before I knew it" or "before I was aware."
Or as Either
In addition to the "before" meaning, the KJV occasionally uses "or" where modern English would use "either." First Samuel 26:10 illustrates this: "The Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish." David is listing alternative ways Saul might meet his end, and "or" functions as "either...or" presenting different possibilities.
This usage, while closer to modern English, is still slightly different in feel from contemporary phrasing. Modern translations typically restructure such sentences for clarity.
Daniel's Use
Daniel 6:24 also employs "or" in a temporal sense in older translations: "Or ever they came at the bottom of the den, the lions had the mastery of them." This means that before Daniel's accusers even reached the floor of the lions' den, the lions had already overpowered them. The speed and completeness of divine justice is emphasized by this temporal construction.
Why Word Meanings Matter
The shifting meaning of "or" illustrates a broader principle in Bible reading: the English language itself changes over time, and translations that were perfectly clear to one generation can become misleading to another. The King James Version, masterful in its 1611 English, contains dozens of words whose meanings have shifted over four centuries. Recognizing these shifts prevents misunderstanding and helps readers access the intended meaning of the original Hebrew and Greek texts.
Biblical Context
The archaic 'or' meaning 'before' appears in Psalm 90:2 about God's eternity, Ecclesiastes 12:6 about death's approach, Song of Solomon 6:12 about an unexpected experience, and Daniel 6:24 about the fate of Daniel's accusers. The 'either' sense appears in 1 Samuel 26:10 among other passages.
Theological Significance
The most significant theological use of the archaic 'or' is in Psalm 90:2, which proclaims God's existence before creation. Understanding this word correctly is essential for grasping the biblical doctrine of God's eternal, self-existent nature. The passages in Ecclesiastes use it to convey the urgency of seeking God before death arrives, connecting the word's temporal meaning to the brevity of human life.
Historical Background
The English word 'or' with the meaning 'before' derives from Old English and was in common literary use through the 17th century. The King James translators in 1611 used the word naturally in this sense, as it was still understood by their audience. By the 18th century, this meaning had largely disappeared from spoken English, though it persisted in poetry. The Revised Version of 1881 and subsequent translations replaced 'or ever' with 'before' to eliminate confusion for modern readers.