Bible Dictionary
ALTOGETHER
Altogether can mean together, completely, wholly, or entirely. Biblical translations use it in several of these senses, depending on the underlying Hebrew or Greek expression.
Definition
Altogether may mean together, all, completely, entirely, fully, wholly, at all, or assuredly. The English word represents several Hebrew and Greek expressions, so its meaning must be determined by the context. In some passages it functions adjectivally, as in “altogether vanity.”
Biblical Usage
Biblical uses include people weighed together, all of a group, a complete destruction, being wholly born in sins, and expressions meaning “at all” or “assuredly.” In Acts 26:29, “altogether” is connected with the difficult phrase rendered “with much” in the Revised Version.
Historical Background
Many occurrences of “altogether” in the King James Version are rendered “together” in the Revised Version.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ol-too-geth'-er: Representing five Hebrew and three Greek originals, which variously signify</p><p>(1) "together"; i.e. all, e.g. `all men, high and low, weighed together in God's balance are lighter than vanity' (Ps 62:9); so also Ps 53:3; Jer 10:8.</p><p>(2) "all": so the Revised Version (British and American), Isa 10:8: "Are not my princes all of them kings?"</p><p>(3) "with one accord have broken the yoke"; so the Revised Version (British and American), Jer 5:5.</p><p>(4) "completely," "entirely," "fully": "so as not to destroy him altogether" (2Ch 12:12; compare Ge 18:21; Ex 11:1; Ps 39:5; Jer 30:11 the King James Version; compare the Revised Version (British and American)).</p><p>(5) "wholly": "altogether born in sins," Joh 9:34.</p><p>(6) In 1Co 5:10 the Revised Version (British and American) rendered "at all"; 1Co 9:10 "assuredly."</p><p>(7) A passage of classic difficulty to translators is Ac 26:29, where "altogether" in the Revised Version (British and American) is rendered "with much," Greek en megalo (en pollo). See ALMOST. Many of the instances where "altogether" occurs in the King James Version become "together" in the Revised Version (British and American). Used as an adjective in Ps 39:5 ("altogether vanity").</p><p>Dwight M. Pratt</p>