Bible dictionaries

Pair

What Bible dictionaries say about “Pair”, one article after the other.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary & Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

Pair - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

PAIR, n. [L. par; Heb. to join, couple or associate.]

1. Two things of a kind, similar in form, applied to the same purpose,and suited to each other or used together; as a pair of gloves or stockings; a pair of shoes; a pair of oxen or horses.

2. Two of a sort; a couple; a brace; as a pair of nerves; a pair of doves. Luke 2.

PAIR, v.i. To be joined in pairs; to couple, as, birds pair in summer.

1. To suit; to fit; as a counterpart.

Ethelinda,

My heart was made to fit and pair with thine.

PAIR, v.t. To unite in couples; as minds paired in heaven.

1. To unite as correspondent, or rather to contrast.

Glossy jet is paired with shining white.

PAIR, v.t. To impair. [See Impair.]

Matthew George Easton, Easton’s Bible Dictionary; Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language (1828)

The article in Easton + Webster 1828

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE 1915)

par: The margin of So 4:2 (but not of the parallel 6:6) reads, "which are all of them in pairs," while the text has, "whereof every one hath twins." The Hebrew math'imoth, is from the root, ta'am, "to be double," and is perhaps susceptible of either meaning. But the description is of sheep, and the margin gives no comprehensible figure, while the text points to the exceedingly sleek and healthy appearance. "Pairs" seems to result from confusing the figure with the thing figured--the teeth, where each upper is paired with the corresponding lower.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia — James Orr, general editor and contributors; CrossWire SWORD module ISBE 2.2

The article in ISBE 1915