One biography of Noah Webster by Joshua Kendall gives insight into Webster’s monumental task in compiling his 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. From the time of the War of Independence to the early eighteen hundreds, Americans were debating what language they should speak. They saw the language of King George III as the language of the oppressor.
Some proposed replacing it with German, since at the time, German was America’s second unofficial language. At least 10% of colonial Americans spoke it. Others wanted Hebrew to take the place of English, with it taught in public schools and used for official documents. Still others wanted to call the American version of English “Columbian.”
Noah Webster is the single most influential founding father concerning the preservation of English as our country’s official language. He did though, make a clear distinction between British English and American English. And, being a Christian, Webster’s Dictionary was largely influenced by the Bible. His 1828 original is a valuable tool for you in your Bible study, and it is still in print almost 200 years later!
Matthew 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.