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NASB | Psalm 119:48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. Zayin. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 119:48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. |
Bible Question:
Is there a difference in meaning behind the word 'shall' in the first portion of the verse and the word 'will' in the second portion? My dictionary suggests that 'will' in the first person is meant as a purposeful action (I will do this) and 'shall' in the first person is used as a futurity (I shall be 40 on my birthday). Is the NASB using these words for specific purpose or are they used interchangeably? To me it would make a difference as to whether one is saying "I will commit or determine" (will) or, "this will happen"(shall). Thank you for reading my question and for imparting any information you may have. Belyn |
Bible Answer: Belyn: In modern English usage the gap between 'shall' and 'will' has narrowed so remarkably that there remains essentially no difference between the meanings of the two words. For years school grammar textbooks taught that 'shall' should be used when speaking in the first person, i.e., I shall, we shall; and that 'will' should be used when speaking in the second person (you will) or third person (he/she/it will, they will). The walls have broken down (there was never a good reason for them in the first place) in current usage. It is perfectly fine to say 'I will' in place of 'I shall.' There are some prudish grammarians who will argue differently, of course. Some feel inclined to think that 'shall' is more emphatic than 'will', but I've never subscribed to this school of thought. The construction of the sentence itself and the context in which it is placed determine emphasis much more than merely choosing between 'shall' and 'will.' Any other English majors out there who would like to challenge me? :-) --Hank |