176 occurrences in 12 translations

'Former' in the Bible

And there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine which had been in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech the king of the Philistines, to Gerar.

Verse ConceptsFamine, Examples OfAppearances Of God In OtTimes Of People

He called that place Bethel, although the former name of the town was Luz.

Verse ConceptsHouse Of GodPeople Naming Things

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

Verse ConceptsReinstatementRestorationLifting HeadsReinstating People

that is, he restored his senior security advisor to his former responsibilities, including attending to Pharaoh's personal wine cup,

Verse ConceptsCupbearerReinstating People

And the thin and ugly cows ate the former seven healthy cows.

Verse ConceptsSeven AnimalsFat AnimalsAnimals Eating

"If they do not believe you or pay attention to the former sign, then they may believe the latter sign.

Verse ConceptsNot Believing PeopleNot Believing Signs

Now the Lord said to Moses, “Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered.

Verse ConceptsFinger Of GodTwoLaw, Ten CommandmentsLeaders, PoliticalToolsWritingSplitting RocksCutting StonesStone ItemsTwo Stone TabletsBreaking The Ten CommandmentsGod Writing With His Finger

So he cut out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand.

Verse ConceptsTabletsRising EarlyCutting StonesGoing Up MountainsStone ItemsThose Who Rose EarlyTwo Stone Tablets

Then they must take different stones to replace the former ones and take additional plaster to replaster the house.

Verse ConceptsClayBricksPlasterBuilding Stones Rejected

and he hath separated to Jehovah the days of his separation, and he hath brought in a lamb, a son of a year, for a guilt-offering, and the former days are fallen, for his separation hath been defiled.

Verse ConceptsGuilt OfferingAnimal Sacrifices, Trespass OfferingUseless LabourAnimals At Specific Ages

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.

Verse ConceptsArnon

Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.

Verse ConceptsMessengers Sent Out

If, while she had been living in her late or former husband's house, she makes a vow or a promise that binds her with an oath,

Verse ConceptsHusband And WifeRelationships With Boyfriend

For, ask, I pray thee, at the former days which have been before thee, from the day that God prepared man on the earth, and from the one end of the heavens even unto the other end of the heavens, whether there hath been as this great thing -- or hath been heard like it?

Verse ConceptsCreation Of All MankindMan's Relation To GodEnd Of Days

“At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.

Verse ConceptsArk Of The Covenant, ConstructionGoing Up MountainsTwo Stone Tablets

I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’

So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the former ones, and went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.

Verse ConceptsArk Of The Covenant, ConstructionToolsTwo Stone Tablets

He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.

Verse ConceptsLaw, Ten CommandmentsTen ThingsGod Appearing In FireThe Law Given By God

And I -- I have stood in the mount, as the former days, forty days and forty nights, and Jehovah hearkeneth unto me also at that time; Jehovah hath not willed to destroy thee.

Verse ConceptsMore Than One MonthGod Unwilling

that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil.

Verse ConceptsBinding cornWater IrrigationOilRainProvisionsGod Sending RainReapingLatenessspringtime

'Thou dost not remove a border of thy neighbour, which they of former times have made, in thine inheritance, which thou dost inherit in the land which Jehovah thy God is giving to thee to possess it.

Verse ConceptsFraudCovenant breakersAgriculture, RestrictionsBoundariesCheatingInjustice, Examples OfLand, As A Divine ResponsibilityProperty, LandStonesLandmarksReal EstatePropertyMoving OnConflictMoving To A New Placeborders

Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

Verse ConceptsAbominations, Perverse SexualitySecond MarriageDefilementHusband And WifeWifeA Good Husbandspousemarraige

Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father's former wife, for he dishonors his father.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'

Verse ConceptsSexual Sin, Nature OfAmen

And from there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir (the former name of Debir [was] Kiriath Sepher).

And Judah went against the Canaanites living in Hebron (the former name of Hebron [was] Kiriath Arba). And they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

And from there they went to the inhabitants of Debir (the former name of Debir [was] Kiriath Sepher).

And the house of Joseph spied out Bethel (the former name of the city was Luz).

Verse Conceptstraitors

They renamed the city Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan, who had been born in Israel. The former name of the city was Laish.

Then he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made your last kindness better than the first; for you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.

Verse ConceptsKindnessDealing With Young PeoplePoor Or RichYoung MarriageMay God Bless!

Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Verse ConceptsCustomGesturesMarketsTraditionsApprovalContracts

(In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)

Verse ConceptsSeersHistory Of Nations

And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

Verse ConceptsAnswering People

David's two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, Nabal's former wife, had been captured.

Verse ConceptsTwo WomenActual WidowsDavid's Wives

I will make a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so that they can dwell {in their own place}. They will not tremble [any] longer, and the children of wickedness will not afflict them again, as in the former days.

Verse ConceptsCruelty, God's attitude toBeginningGod, The ProviderTroubling Groups Of PeopleGod's People PlantedMoving OnMoving To A New Place

""I gave you your former master's household. ""I placed your former master's wives right in your arms. ""I gave you Israel and Judah. ""And if this had been too little, I would have added much more than that to you!

Verse ConceptsConcubinesTribes Of IsraelAdding BlessingGod Giving FreelyTransferring Wives

and she speaketh, saying, 'They spake often in former times, saying, Let them diligently ask at Abel, and so they finished.

Verse ConceptsOld SayingsMan's Counsel

If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the Lord's temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah."

Verse ConceptsSeducersHow To Worship God

The king pled with the prophet, "Seek the favor of the Lord your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored." So the prophet sought the Lord's favor and the king's hand was restored to its former condition.

Verse ConceptsPray For UsPraying For Sinners

He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, fortified the hill, and named the city Samaria after Shemer, the former owner of the hill.

Verse ConceptsBuildingCoinage

Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

Verse ConceptsKept Alive By MenDeath Due To God's PresenceFire From Heaven

Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

Verse ConceptsOrdinancesGod Renaming PeopleFalse Religion To This DayBreaking God's LawImmigrants

Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

They discovered abundant and excellent grazing lands there, where the land was very broad, secure, and tranquil, because the former inhabitants there were descendants of Ham.

Verse ConceptsPeace, Divine In Ot

David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the LORD, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name.

Verse ConceptsJudgment Seat

These are the foundations that Solomon set in place for God's Temple. The length in terms of the former standard measurements: 60 cubits; its width: 20 cubits.

Verse ConceptsFoundationsBreadthThe First Templeconstructionmeasurement

Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the former ways of his father David. He did not seek the Baals

Verse ConceptsChildren, needs ofChildren, Good Parental ExamplesImitating Good KingsGod With Specific People

"LORD God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven, are you not? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, don't you? In your own hands you grasp both strength and power, don't you? As a result, no one can oppose you, can they? You are our God, who expelled the former inhabitants of this land right in front of our people Israel, aren't you? Then you gave it to your friend Abraham's descendant forever, didn't you?

Verse ConceptsAbraham, The Friend Of GodNames And Titles For The ChristianDivine FriendshipFriendship And Trust

When they arrived at the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families contributed toward building the Temple of God on its former site.

Verse ConceptsFreewill OfferingHouse Of GodFree Will

Now a number of the priests, the Levities, and the leading officials of the elders who were very elderly had seen the former Temple with their own eyes. When they observed the foundation of the Temple being laid, they wept with a loud voice, while the rest of them shouted for joy.

Verse ConceptsecstasyRejoicing In God's WorksThe First Temple

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the Lord God of Israel,

Verse ConceptsBuild, LiterallyRebuilding The Temple

The former exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month

Verse ConceptsPassover lambYearsThe Number Fourteen

because the priests and descendants of Levi had purified themselves together all of them were pure and they killed the Passover lamb for every former exile, for their relatives the priests, and for themselves.

Verse ConceptsLambsPurificationPurifying OneselfKilling Sacrifices

But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Verse ConceptsCoinageAttitudes Of ReverenceGovernorsGodly Fear, Examples OfHeavy BurdensIndividuals Fearing GodTax To Be Paid

“If he is snatched from his place [in the garden],Then his place will forget him, saying, ‘I have never seen you.’

Verse ConceptsNot Knowing People

So man lies down and does not rise [again].Until the heavens are no longer,The dead will not awake nor be raised from their sleep.

Verse ConceptsThe Finality Of DeathDeath Is Finalawakening

For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.

Verse ConceptsSuffering, Causes Of

All his brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances came to his house and dined with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him concerning all the adversity the Lord had brought on him. Each one gave him a qesitah and a gold earring.

Verse ConceptsGod, Goodness OfGoldOrnamentsRingsSistersSuffering, Encouragements InVisitingComfort, Of FriendsPresentsJewelleryLarge Denominations

The LORD blessed Job during the latter part of his life more than the former, since he owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.

Verse ConceptsSheepYokesCamelsOwning LivestockA Thousand AnimalsSix ThousandEleven To Nineteen ThousandFamily ProblemsBlessings From GodEnd Of DaysBlessings And Prosperity

O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

Verse ConceptsAfflictions, Prayer DuringGod Forgetting

Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

Verse ConceptsLovingkindnessGod Swearing Blessings

From the age I was anointed, from the first, From former states of the earth.

Verse ConceptsGod, The EternalGod Being Of OldGod Existing Before Timeeternity

Great is the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.

Verse ConceptsChanceHiringWounds

There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

Verse ConceptsAnonymityUnknown FutureThe Pastremembrancepast

The former can come out of prison to reign, while the latter, even if born to kingship, may become poor.

Verse ConceptsPoor PeopleKings And Pridejail

Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

Verse ConceptsHaving A Good DayThe Pastpastwise

I will restore your judges to what they once were,and your advisers to their former state.Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,a Faithful City.”

Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, To GodNames For JerusalemBeginningReinstatementA Righteous PeopleLeaders

Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.

Verse ConceptsHumilityComing Out Of DarknessDespair

The peoples will take them along and bring them to their own place (Judea), and the house of Israel will possess them as an inheritance in the land of the Lord as male and female servants; and they will take captive those whose captives they have been, and they will rule over their [former] oppressors.

Verse ConceptsStrangers in israel

Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones.

Verse ConceptsGrave, TheGreetingsSpiritsThroneDeath Of The Wickedwelcome

“Now in that day the [former] glory of Jacob [Israel—his might, his population, his prosperity] will fade,And the fatness of his flesh will become lean.

Verse ConceptsFatnessDecayThin BodiesLosing Honour

The [wicked] dead will not live [again], the spirits of the dead will not rise and return;Therefore You have punished and destroyed them,And You have wiped out every memory of them [every trace of them].

Verse ConceptsSpiritsThe Finality Of DeathDeath Is FinalLiveTrust In Relationships

In the withering of its branch it is broken off, Women are coming in setting it on fire, For it is not a people of understanding, Therefore pity it not doth its Maker, And its Former doth not favour it.

Verse ConceptsSympathyDullnessFirewoodGod Without Mercy

For, arranged from former time is Tophet, Even it for the king is prepared, He hath made deep, He hath made large, Its pile is fire and much wood, The breath of Jehovah, As a stream of brim stone, is burning in it!

Verse ConceptsPitsTheophanyBrimstonePreparation For BurialSulphurA Place Prepared

Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Verse ConceptsThe Future

Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know?Or from former times, that we may say, “He is right!”?Surely there was no one who declared,Surely there was no one who proclaimed,Surely there was no one who heard your words.

Verse ConceptsFrom The Beginning

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Verse ConceptsGod, All knowingFutureForeknowledgeGod's Foreknowledgea new beginningThe Pastspringtime

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

Verse ConceptsJustification, Necessity OfGod Speaking Of Old

Thus said Jehovah, thy Maker, and thy Former, From the womb He doth help thee; Fear not, my servant Jacob, And Jeshurun, whom I have fixed on.

Verse ConceptsGod, Feminine Descriptions OfAbortionWombUnborn FetusesGod Helps

Woe to him who is striving with his Former, (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Doth clay say to its Framer, 'What dost thou?' And thy work, 'He hath no hands?'

Verse ConceptsCriticism, amongst believersArguingClaySurrenderingPresumptionPotteryAuthority, Belonging To GodAnimositySuing GodWoe To The WickedMan's Relationship With His Creatorstriving

Thus said Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel, and his Former: Ask Me of the things coming concerning My sons, Yea, concerning the work of My hands, ye command Me.'

Verse ConceptsMan's Relationship With His CreatorQuestioning GodThe FutureSolar Eclipse

Declare and present [your case], also let them consult together! Who {made this known} from {former times}, declared it from {of old}? [Was it] not I, Yahweh? And there is no [other] god besides [me], a righteous God besides me, and no savior besides me.

Verse ConceptsGod, Righteousness OfGod Speaking Of OldNo Other Is God

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

Verse ConceptsActionsSuddenlyGod Speaking Of OldWhat God Doesa new beginningThe Past

Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the Lord! Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity! Did you not smash the Proud One? Did you not wound the sea monster?

Verse ConceptsGod, Human Descriptions OfGenerationsSleep, SpiritualSleeplessnessNames And Titles For ChristChrist, Names ForPeople Cut In PiecesGod's HandStrength Of GodCosmic CreaturesGod Acting Of OldGod Waking Upawakeningrehabilitationclosure

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Verse ConceptsGenerationsBeginningRuinsBuilding CitiesArchaeologyWaste Places RestoredRepairingRebuilding JerusalemRenewalbridgesrebuilding

Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion;And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion.Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had forfeited];Everlasting joy will be theirs.

Verse ConceptsGod, The EternalDouble PortionsEternal BlessingDoubled OverEliminating ShameYou Will Rejoice In SalvationInjusticeInheritanceBlessings And Prosperityanniversaryrejuvenation

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Verse ConceptsdefianceWagesSins Of The FathersBurning SacrificesSacrificing On The High PlacesMaking Mistakes

“And you will leave your name behind to My chosen ones [who will use it] as a curse,And the Lord God will put you to death,But He will call His servants by another name [a much greater name, just as the name Israel was greater than the name Jacob].

Verse ConceptsGod KillingGod Renaming PeopleNames Blotted OutGod KillsA New Namecurses

That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Verse ConceptsLeaving The Past BehindPast, TheGod Is TruthfulBeing Hidden From GodHidden From GodSwearing ByFamily ProblemsBlessing OthersSwearing

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

Verse ConceptsCovenant, God's with Noahdrought, physicalHarvestPentecostWeather, God's Sovereignty OverWeeksGod Sending RainLatenessRight Time For GodNo Fear Of GodSeasons Changing

The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

Verse ConceptsCreation, Origin OfGod, Power OfJacob, The PatriarchPeople Of God, In OtUniverseNot Like IdolsGod As A Warrior

They have turned back to the iniquities of their former ancestors, who refused to obey my words, and they have gone after other gods, to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I {made} with their ancestors."

Verse ConceptsServanthood, And Worship Of GodRefusing To HearDifferent GodsReturning to the oldBreaking The Covenant

“What will you say when He appoints over you—And you yourself had taught them—Former companions to be head over you?Will not pangs take hold of youLike a woman in childbirth?

Verse ConceptsAliancesLabour PainsPeople Teaching

But at that time they will affirm them with "I swear as surely as the Lord lives who delivered the descendants of the former nation of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished them." At that time they will live in their own land.'"

Verse ConceptsPunishment, Legal Aspects OfReturn From The North

Bible Theasaurus

Ancestral (119 instances)
Former (176 instances)
Previous (37 instances)
Prior (13 instances)
Sometime (23 instances)

Reverse Interlinear

Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
ראשׁן ראשׁון 
Ri'shown 
Usage: 182

אמשׁ 
'emesh 
Usage: 5

יורה 
Yowreh 
Usage: 3

יצר 
Yatsar 
Usage: 62

מורה 
Mowreh 
Usage: 3

קדמה 
Qadmah 
Usage: 6

קדמני קדמוני 
Qadmowniy 
Usage: 10

πρότερον 
Proteron 
before Trans , first , former , before , at the first
Usage: 9

πρότερος 
Proteros 
Usage: 1

πρῶτος 
Protos 
Usage: 67

American Standard Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible