Bible Encyclopedia: Solemnity

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SOLEMN, SOLEMNITY

sol'-em, so-lem'-ni-ti: The word "solemn" had

(1) at first the meaning "once in the year," through its derivation from Latin sollus, "whole," annus, "year." As, however, a regular annual occurrence is usually one of particular importance, the word took on

(2) the meaning "ceremonious." From this is derived

(3) the usual modern force of "grave" in opposition to "joyous."

This last meaning is not in Biblical English, and the meanings of "solemn" in English Versions of the Bible are either (1) or (2). Nor is there any certain case of (1), for the word is always a gloss in English Versions of the Bible and, although frequently introduced in references to annual events (Leviticus 23:36, etc.), it is even more often used where "annual" is foreign to the passage (2 Kings 10:20 Psalm 92:3, etc.). The use of the word in the King James Version is unsystematic. It is always (except in Jeremiah 9:2) found in conjunction with "assembly" when (10 times) the latter word represents atsarah ('atsereth) (Leviticus 23:36, etc.) (retained by the Revised Version (British and American) with margin "closing festival," Leviticus 23:36 2 Chronicles 7:9; Nehemiah 8:18). the King James Version uses "solemnity" or "solemn day," "feast," etc., 17 times for the very common word mo`edh ("appointed" time, etc.).

See FEASTS.

RV's treatment of these passages defies analysis. "Solemnity" is kept in Isaiah 33:20 Ezekiel 46:11, and "solemn" in Lamentations (4 times); Hosea (3 times); Zechariah 3:18. In Ezekiel 36:38; Ezekiel 45:17; Ezekiel 46:9 it is replaced by "appointed," elsewhere (and for mo'adhoth, 2 Chronicles 8:13) by "set." The margins further complicate the renderings. the King James Version also uses "solemn" with chagh, "feast," 4 times, and with chaghagh, "keep a feast," in Deuteronomy 16:15. The word is dropped by the Revised Version (British and American), except the English Revised Version in Psalm 81:3. Finally, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) have "solemn sound" for higgayon, in Psalm 92:3. The context, however, demands "resounding melody." And 11 times the Revised Version (British and American) has introduced "solemn" to represent the intensive in the form shabbath shabbathon (Exodus 16:23, etc.), where the King James Version has simply "sabbath" or "sabbath of rest." the Revised Version (British and American) here has imitated the adverbial "solemnly" in the similar intensified expressions in Genesis 43:3 1 Samuel 8:9.

The Revised Version (British and American) Apocrypha translates en hemerais kairou, "in the days of the season" (Baruch 1:14), by "on the days of the solemn assembly" (the King James Version "solemn days"), and both the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) have "solemn feast days" for dies festos (2 Esdras 1:31). Otherwise the King James Version's use of "solemn" is dropped by the Revised Version (British and American).

Burton Scott Easton

Strong's Hebrew

2282. chag -- a festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
... solemn feast day, sacrifice, solemnity. Or chag {khawg}; from chagag; a festival,
or a victim therefor -- (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity. ...
/hebrew/2282.htm - 6k

1902. higgayon -- resounding music, meditation, musing
... Intensive from hagah; a murmuring sound, ie A musical notation (probably similar
to the modern affettuoso to indicate solemnity of movement); by implication, a ...
/hebrew/1902.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Religious and Prelates are in the State of Perfection?
... above [3762](A[4]), there is required for the state of perfection a perpetual
obligation to things pertaining to perfection, together with a certain solemnity. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether religious and prelates are.htm

Whether the Church Observes a Suitable Rite in Baptizing?
... I answer that, In the sacrament of Baptism something is done which is essential
to the sacrament, and something which belongs to a certain solemnity of the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the church observes a.htm

On Mr. Mccabe and a Divine Frivolity
... The Bishop of Rome has no jurisdiction in this realm of England; whereas the
police-magistrate may bring his solemnity to bear quite suddenly upon us. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/xvi on mr mccabe and.htm

How Herod Celebrated the Games that were to Return Every Fifth ...
... The entire building being accomplished: in the tenth year, the solemnity of it fell
into the twenty-eighth year of Herod's reign, and into the hundred and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 5 how herod celebrated.htm

Whether Whoever is Perfect is in the State of Perfection?
... Secondly, it is required that the aforesaid obligation be imposed with a certain
solemnity; even as a certain solemnity is observed in other matters which ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether whoever is perfect is.htm

Whether a Vow is Solemnized by the Reception of Holy Orders, and ...
... As stated above [3059](A[1]), a vow is a promise made to God. Now external actions
pertaining to solemnity seem to be directed, not to God, but to men. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a vow is solemnized.htm

Whether an Oath is Voided by a Condition of Person or Time?
... it would seem that a person ought not to be debarred from swearing either on account
of his dignity, as clerics, or on account of the solemnity of the time. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether an oath is voided.htm

Whether it is Possible to be Dispensed from a Solemn Vow of ...
... secondly, the perpetuity of the vow, namely, when a person binds himself by vow
to the perpetual observance of chastity: thirdly, the solemnity of the vow. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is possible to 2.htm

But in this Corner Called England, at this End of the Century...
... more important than the private house; that politics are not (as woman had always
maintained) an excuse for pots of beer, but are a sacred solemnity to which ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 22 but in this.htm

'According To' --I.
... So in both aspects the facts of earth are traced up to, and declared to be, the
outcome of the heavenly depths, and that gives solemnity, grandeur, elevation ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/according toi.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual ceremony; as, the solemnity of a funeral, a sacrament.

2. (n.) ceremony adapted to impress with awe.

3. (n.) Ceremoniousness; impressiveness; seriousness; grave earnestness; formal dignity; gravity.

4. (n.) Hence, affected gravity or seriousness.

5. (n.) Solemn state or feeling; awe or reverence; also, that which produces such a feeling; as, the solemnity of an audience; the solemnity of Westminster Abbey.

6. (n.) A solemn or formal observance; proceeding according to due form; the formality which is necessary to render a thing done valid.

Thesaurus

Solemnity (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A rite or ceremony performed with religious reverence; religious or ritual
ceremony; as, the solemnity of a funeral, a sacrament. ... SOLEMN, SOLEMNITY. ...
/s/solemnity.htm - 12k

Solemn (100 Occurrences)
... SOLEMN ASSEMBLY (MEETING). See CONGREGATION; FASTS AND FEASTS; SOLEMN, SOLEMNITY.
SOLEMN, SOLEMNITY. sol'-em, so-lem'-ni-ti: The word ...
/s/solemn.htm - 43k

Conscience (36 Occurrences)
... It is this which imparts to death its solemnity; we instinctively know that we are
going to our account. And such great natural instincts cannot be false. ...
/c/conscience.htm - 37k

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A church solemnity or ceremony celebrated at Rome, at stated intervals,
originally of one hundred years, but latterly of twenty-five; a plenary and ...
/j/jubilee.htm - 27k

Generally (7 Occurrences)
... the translation of paneguris (whence we have panegyric), "an assembly or convocation
of the whole people to celebrate any public festival or solemnity, as the ...
/g/generally.htm - 11k

Formal (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (a.) Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not
incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent. ...
/f/formal.htm - 7k

Timothy (28 Occurrences)
... steadfastness, and to patience under persecution (1:6-15), and to a faithful discharge
of all the duties of his office (4:1-5), with all the solemnity of one ...
/t/timothy.htm - 38k

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)
... name from the circumstances that the trumpets usually blown at the commencement
of each month were on that occasion blown with unusual solemnity (Leviticus 23 ...
/t/trumpets.htm - 32k

Ezra (28 Occurrences)
... They kept also the feast of Tabernacles with great solemnity and joyous enthusiasm,
and then renewed their national covenant to be the Lord's. ...
/e/ezra.htm - 29k

Eluzai (1 Occurrence)
... that treats the words as a Lukan designation of Christ, with the assumption that
Luke here reintroduces Christ as the speaker in order to give solemnity to the ...
/e/eluzai.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Solemnity (3 Occurrences)

John 19:31 Meanwhile the Jews, because it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and in order that the bodies might not remain on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was one of special solemnity)
(WEY)

Deuteronomy 31:10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Solemnity

Related Terms

Solemn (100 Occurrences)

Conscience (36 Occurrences)

Jubilee (25 Occurrences)

Generally (7 Occurrences)

Formal (1 Occurrence)

Timothy (28 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Ezra (28 Occurrences)

Eluzai (1 Occurrence)