Bible Dictionary
FORTH
Forth expresses movement forward, outward, or beyond a boundary. It commonly appears with verbs such as come forth, bring forth, break forth, stand forth, and spread forth.
Definition
Forth is an adverb expressing movement forward, outward, or beyond a boundary. It commonly appears with verbs such as come forth, bring forth, break forth, call forth, stand forth, and spread forth. Its precise force depends on the verb and context.
Biblical Usage
Biblical translations use forth for movement out of a place, beyond a boundary, into the midst, or forward. It appears in commands such as “come forth” and in descriptions of bringing forth or bearing fruit. Later versions often replace it with out, away, abroad, bearing, or other more precise expressions.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>forth: "Forth," adverb (from "for"), signifies movement</p><p>(1) forward,</p><p>(2) out of,</p><p>(3) beyond a certain boundary.</p><p>In a few instances in the Old Testament it is the translation of the preposition `al, properly "above," "upon" (2Ki 11:15; 2Ch 23:14; Am 7:17 the King James Version), and of chuts, "without" (Ge 39:13; Jud 19:25). "Forth" is often used as an expletive of various verbs, as "break (forth)," "bring (forth)," "call (forth)," etc. In the Gospel of John it is the translation of exo, "without," as "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43; so 15:6; 19:4 the King James Version, etc.; also Ac 5:34; 9:40). "Stand forth" in Mr 3:3 is the translation of egeire eis to meson, margin "Arise into the midst." the Revised Version (British and American) has a great many changes, frequently substituting "out," "away," "abroad," etc.; "forth from" for "out of" (Job 41:21; Isa 45:23); "spread forth" for "stretched out" (Ps 44:20; 88:9; 136:6), etc. In Col 1:6, for "bringeth forth fruit" the Revised Version (British and American) reads "bearing fruit."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>