Bible Dictionary
By and by
“By and by” is an old English expression that in several King James Version passages means immediately, straightway, or at once. It does not mean “after some time” in those contexts.
Definition
“By and by” is an obsolete English expression that in the cited King James Version passages means immediately, straightway, or at once. It does not mean after a delay in these contexts.
Biblical Usage
The expression describes an action occurring immediately or forthwith in passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Modern versions replace it with “straightway,” “immediately,” or “forthwith.”
Historical Background
The older English sense of the phrase has become obsolete. Historical English examples show that “by and by” could once mean shortly or immediately.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Immediately (Matt. 13:21; R.V., “straightway;” Luke 21:9).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>In the sense of "immediately" is the King James Version translation of exautes, of Mr 6:25 (the American Standard Revised Version "forthwith"); of euthus, Mt 13:21 (the American Standard Revised Version "straightway"); of eutheos, Lu 17:7 (the American Standard Revised Version "straightway"); Lu 21:9 (the American Standard Revised Version "immediately"). In English literally this meaning is obsolete (compare: "After you have dyned and supte, laboure not by and by after, but make a pause--the space of an howre or more with some pastyme") (Babees Book, EETS, 247).</p>