'Ahead' in the Bible

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

He entrusted them to his slaves as separate herds and said to them, “Go on ahead of me, and leave some distance between the herds.”

And he told the first one: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to? Where are you going? And whose animals are these ahead of you?’

You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I want to appease Esau with the gift that is going ahead of me. After that, I can face him, and perhaps he will forgive me.”

So the gift was sent on ahead of him while he remained in the camp that night.

He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.

God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.

Now Jacob had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to prepare for his arrival at Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,

The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.

The Lord answered Moses, “Go on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take the staff you struck the Nile with in your hand and go.

“I will cause the people ahead of you to feel terror and throw into confusion all the nations you come to. I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you in retreat.

I will not drive them out ahead of you in a single year; otherwise, the land would become desolate, and wild animals would multiply against you.

I will drive them out little by little ahead of you until you have become numerous and take possession of the land.

I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River. For I will place the inhabitants of the land under your control, and you will drive them out ahead of you.

I will send an angel ahead of you and will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

They set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three-day journey with the ark of the Lord’s covenant traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.

The Angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or the left.

But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our dependents will remain in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.

“Then all of you approached me and said, ‘Let’s send men ahead of us, so that they may explore the land for us and bring us back a report about the route we should go up and the cities we will come to.’

“I commanded you at that time: The Lord your God has given you this land to possess. All your fighting men will cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers the Israelites.

But commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit this land that you will see.’

But understand that today the Lord your God will cross over ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will devastate and subdue them before you. You will drive them out and destroy them swiftly, as the Lord has told you.

Then the Lord said to me, ‘Get up. Continue your journey ahead of the people, so that they may enter and possess the land I swore to give their fathers.’

The Lord your God is the One who will cross ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will drive them out. Joshua is the one who will cross ahead of you, as the Lord has said.

Your wives, young children, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your fighting men must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them

Then he said to the priests, “Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth goes ahead of you into the Jordan.

When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ahead of the people.

When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead.”

He said to the people, “Move forward, march around the city, and have the armed troops go ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.

I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove out the two Amorite kings before you. It was not by your sword or bow.

Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim with this message: “Come down to intercept the Midianites and take control of the watercourses ahead of them as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they took control of the watercourses as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan.

Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone who allows me to?”Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”

The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now came to the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.

“I am the seer,” Samuel answered. “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart.

As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the attendant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the attendant went on.

Afterward, go ahead of me to Gilgal. I will come to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice fellowship offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what to do.”

So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon in the Arabah south of Jeshimon,

Then she said to her male servants, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

He took all the sheep and cattle, which were driven ahead of the other livestock, and the people shouted, “This is David’s plunder!”

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the Lord will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.”

There were 1,000 men from Benjamin with him. Ziba, an attendant from the house of Saul, with his 15 sons and 20 servants also rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king.

Adonijah son of Haggith kept exalting himself, saying, “I will be king!” He prepared chariots, cavalry, and 50 men to run ahead of him.

and then asked, “May I talk with you?”“Go ahead,” she answered.

Then she said, “I have just one small request of you. Don’t turn me down.”“Go ahead and ask, mother,” the king replied, “for I won’t turn you down.”

The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

But Naaman insisted, “Please, accept 150 pounds.” He urged Gehazi and then packed 150 pounds of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes. Naaman gave them to two of his young men who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger got to him, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”

Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord that He will do what He has promised: Should the shadow go ahead 10 steps or go back 10 steps?”

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then march out to battle, for God will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.”

He charges ahead with trembling rage;he cannot stand still at the trumpet’s sound.

They prepared a net for my steps;I was despondent.They dug a pit ahead of me,but they fell into it!Selah

He had sent a man ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

Let your eyes look forward;fix your gaze straight ahead.

calling to those who pass by,who go straight ahead on their paths:

I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile.

Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God’s hands.People don’t know whether to expect love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them.

This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for you and your wives, you women have spoken with your mouths, and you men fulfilled it by your deeds, saying, “We will keep our vows that we have made to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings for her.” Go ahead, confirm your vows! Pay your vows!’

Their wings were touching. The creatures did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.

Each creature went straight ahead. Wherever the Spirit wanted to go, they went without turning as they moved.

Their faces looked like the same faces I had seen by the Chebar Canal. Each creature went straight ahead.

Its windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate that faced east. Seven steps led up to the gate, and its portico was ahead of them.

Its stairway had seven steps, and its portico was ahead of them. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on each side.

Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egyptand redeemed you from that place of slavery.I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you.

Their horses are swifter than leopardsand more fierce than wolves of the night.Their horsemen charge ahead;their horsemen come from distant lands.They fly like an eagle, swooping to devour.

This is the one it is written about:Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You;he will prepare Your way before You.

Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.

telling them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to Me.

Then the crowds who went ahead of Him and those who followed kept shouting:Hosanna to the Son of David!He who comes in the nameof the Lord is the blessed One!Hosanna in the highest heaven!

But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You,who will prepare Your way.

but many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd.

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him.

and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting:Hosanna!He who comes in the nameof the Lord is the blessed One!

But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there just as He told you.’”

This is the one it is written about:Look, I am sending My messengerahead of You;he will prepare Your way before You.

He sent messengers ahead of Him, and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make preparations for Him.

After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go.

So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way.

When He had said these things, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

and said, “Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of Him.’

“Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.”

When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.

These men went on ahead and waited for us in Troas,

Then we went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there. For these were his instructions, since he himself was going by land.

For at the meal, each one eats his own supper ahead of others. So one person is hungry while another gets drunk!

Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead,