why an 1828 dictionary?

Think of it...a fairly new nation with a people who, although they spoke English, were enough removed from England geographically, governmentally, and philosophically they had acquired a vocabulary necessitating a dictionary all their own. Noah Webster noted such a need and began to work on assembling such a resource. His study included tracing the roots of words in 26 original languages as well as their Biblical references. He lived in a time when the Bible was studied seriously by the learned and Christian character was prized above all else. The summation of his life's work is captured in the 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language.

What about a modern dictionary? Doesn't it do a similar job defining words, and perhaps better since over time it could be updated? If only this were true! Take the following example (from the informational leaflet included with the dictionary):

Definition of marriage
Modern dictionary (2000): The legal union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. The state of being married, wedlock. A common-law marriage. A union between two persons having the customary but usually not the legal force of marriage.

Webster dictionary (1828): The act of uniting a man and a woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and a woman for life. Marriage is a contract both civil and religious by which the parties engage to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted by God Himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children. "Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled." Hebrews 13

Definition of sin
Modern dictionary (1984): The act of breaking a religious or moral law. An offense, error, or fault.

Webster dictionary (1928): The voluntary departure of a moral agent from a know rule or rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such a command. Sin comprehends not actions only, but whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. 1 John 3; Matt. 15, James 4 (The definition goes on for another column.)

Our lives are more a product of the understanding of our times and the way our words are defined than we know. I first developed a strong desire for a good dictionary when reading through some of Frances Schaeffer's books. If you have read him much at all, you will know he invented his own vocabulary partly because words had stopped meaning what they were meant to mean. It was his attempt to help men and women understand just exactly what it was they were saying (and not saying) with their words.

What does it really matter? Very much, as God communicated with man through words, through His word, and through the Word that "became flesh and dwelt among us." I'm not suggesting you need an almost 200 year old dictionary to be a success beginning to understand the world and the words we use, or in understanding the very Word of God...but it does give great food for thought. And for someone who loves words, it is a perfect gift.