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Bible Dictionaries
Before, Beforetime
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words
or the neuter of the adjective protos (the superlative degree of pro, "before"), signifies "first, or at the first," (a) in order of time, e.g., Luke 10:5; John 18:13; 1 Corinthians 15:46; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Timothy 3:10; (b) in enumerating various particulars, e.g., Romans 3:2; 1 Corinthians 11:18; 12:28; Hebrews 7:2; James 3:17 . It is translated "before" in John 15:18 . See CHIEFLY , FIRST.
the neuter of proteros, the comparative degree of pro, is always used of time, and signifies "aforetime, before," e.g., John 6:62; 9:8; 2 Corinthians 1:15; Hebrews 7:27; in Galatians 4:13 , "the first time" (RV), lit., "the former time," i.e., the former of two previous visits; in Hebrews 10:32 it is placed between the article and the noun, "the former days;" so in 1 Peter 1:14 , "the former lusts," i.e., the lusts formerly indulged. See FIRST , FORMER.
"before, formerly" (etymologically akin to pro, "before"), has the force of a conjunction, e.g., Matthew 1:18; 26:34,75; John 14:29; Acts 7:2 .
is used of place or position only; adverbially, signifying "in front," Luke 19:28; Philippians 3:13; Revelation 4:6; as a preposition, e.g., Matthew 5:24; John 10:4; with the meaning "in the sight of a person," e.g., Matthew 5:16; 6:1; 17:2; Luke 19:27; John 12:37; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 , RV, "before;" AV, "in the presence of;" Revelation 19:10 , RV, "before," especially in phrases signifying in the sight of God, as God wills, Matthew 11:26; 18:14 (lit., "a thing willed before your Father," RV, marg.); Luke 10:21; in the sense of "priority of rank or position or dignity," John 1:15,30 (in some texts, John 1:27 ); in an antagonistic sense, "against," Matthew 23:13 (RV, marg., "before").
from en, "in," and anti, "over against," the neuter of the adjective enantios, and virtually an adverb, is also used as a preposition signifying "in the presence of, in the sight of," Luke 20:26; Acts 7:10; 8:32; "in the judgment of," Luke 24:19 .
an adverb, used as a preposition, has meanings like those of No. 5, "before," Luke 1:8; "in the judgment of," Acts 8:21 . Some texts have the word in Acts 7:10 .
apo, "from," with No. 6, denotes (a) "opposite," Matthew 27:61; (b) "in the sight of, before," Matthew 27:24; Acts 3:16; Romans 3:18; (c) "against," Acts 17:7 . See CONTRARY , PRESENCE.
kata, "down," with No. 6, lit., "down over against," is used (a) of locality, e.g., Mark 11:2; 13:3; Luke 19:30; (b) as "in the sight of," Romans 4:17; in most mss. in 2 Corinthians 2:17; 12:19 .
from en, "in," and ops, "the eye," is the neuter of the adjective enopios, and is used prepositionally, (a) of place, that which is before or opposite a person, "towards which he turns his eyes," e.g., Luke 1:19; Acts 4:10; 6:6; Revelation 1:4; 4:10; 7:15; (b) in metaphorical phrases after verbs of motion, Luke 1:17; 12:9; Acts 9:15 , etc.; signifying "in the mind or soul of persons," Luke 12:6; Acts 10:31; Revelation 16:19; (c) "in one's sight or hearing," Luke 24:43; John 20:30; 1 Timothy 6:12; metaphorically, Romans 14:22; especially in Galatians 1:20; 1 Timothy 5:21; 6:13; 2 Timothy 2:14; 4:1; before, as "having a person present to the mind," Acts 2:25; James 4:10; "in the judgment of a person," Luke 16:15; 24:11 , RV, "in their sight," for AV, "to;" Acts 4:19; Romans 3:20; 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 1 Timothy 2:3; "in the approving sight of God," Luke 1:75; Acts 7:46; 10:33; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 7:12 . See PRESENCE , SIGHT OF (in the).
kata, "against," with No. 9, signifies "right over against, opposite;" (a) of place, Jude 1:24; (b) before God as Judge, Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:22 . See No. 8 (b).
"to exist before, or be beforehand," is found in Luke 23:12; Acts 8:9 , "beforetime." In the Sept., Job 42:18 .
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Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Before, Beforetime'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/b/before-beforetime.html. 1940.
