Dictionaries :: By and By

Easton's Bible Dictionary

By and By:

immediately (Mat 13:21; R.V., "straightway; Luk 21:9).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

By and By:

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 In English literally this meaning is obsolete (compare: "After you have dyned and supte, laboure not by and by after, but make a pause-the space of an howre or more with some pastyme") (Babees Book, EETS,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).

King James Dictionary

By and By: At Once; Immediately.

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me BY AND BY in a charger the head of John the Baptist. (Mark 6:24-25)