four score and seven years ago meaning in bible

#Four score and seven years ago meaning in bible full

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. (via Britannica, Library of Congress)įour score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

#Four score and seven years ago meaning in bible full

See the full text of the Gettysburg Address below.

The Library of Congress has two copies of the address, the Illinois State Historical Library has one, Cornell University has one and one is in the Lincoln room in the White House.

Each copy differs slightly, which probably stems from Lincoln’s self-editing.

We get our current text of the speech from the fifth of five written copies, all written in Lincoln’s handwriting.

Everett later wrote to Lincoln about his speech, saying, “I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”.

Instead, the biggest speech belonged to Edward Everett, who spoke for two hours before Lincoln took the podium.

On the day of the speech, Lincoln’s oration was hardly the highlight of the occasion.

The speech was made, then, seven score and seven years ago.

Lincoln’s address starts with “Four score and seven years ago.” A score is equal to 20 years, so he was referencing 87 years ago - 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed.But what do you really know about the Gettysburg Address? Check out some things you may not know about the iconic speech. Follow November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave a speech that would be quoted for centuries to come.