Bible Dictionary
ANCIENT
Ancient refers to what is very old, belonging to former times, or extending from remote antiquity. It can describe old mountains, paths, peoples, rulers, or traditions.
Definition
Ancient refers to what belongs to former times, remote antiquity, old age, or long duration. Biblical Hebrew terms translated “ancient” can describe the distant past, aged persons, enduring time, old paths, former peoples, or decrepit age.
Biblical Usage
Scripture speaks of ancient mountains, an ancient river, ancient kings, the years of ancient times, ancient paths and landmarks, ancient peoples and nations, and ancient high places.
Historical Background
The supplied material identifies several Hebrew terms behind the translation, including words meaning beforetime, old in years, long duration, advanced age, and decrepit age.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>an'-shent: This word renders several Hebrew words:</p><p>(1) qedhem, which denotes "beforetime," "yore"; generally the remote past (compare De 33:15, "ancient mountains"; Jud 5:21, Kishon, the "ancient river"; Isa 19:11 "ancient kings").</p><p>(2) zaqen, "old" in years. Whereas the King James Version generally renders the word by "old" (or "elders" when the plural form is found) in six cases "ancient" is used and "ancients" in nine cases. See ANCIENTS.</p><p>(3) `olam, which denotes "long duration" --past or future. In regard to the past it suggests remote antiquity. The connotation may be discovered in such expressions as: "the years of ancient times" (Ps 77:5); "ancient land-mark" or "paths" (Pr 22:28; Jer 18:15); "ancient people" or "nation" (Isa 44:7; Jer 5:15); "ancient high places" (Eze 36:2).</p><p>(4) `attiq. This word--really Aramaic--comes from a stem which means "to advance," i.e. in age; hence old, aged (1Ch 3:22).</p><p>(5) yashish, literally, "weak," "impotent," hence decrepit aged; a rare and poetical word, and found only in Job. It is rendered "ancient" only in one instance (Job 12:12 the King James Version).</p><p>Thomas Lewis</p>