'Rather' in the Bible

and if we have not rather out of carefulness done this, and of purpose, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?

Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here ? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away unto me unto this day?

And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than these my bones.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.

How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favor rather than silver and gold.

moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:

And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.

And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it .

and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.

And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.

And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;

But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:

But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.

for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling.

And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?

Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.

Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:

Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts , but rather that ye may prophesy.

Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.

how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.

and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;

Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;

neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith;'so do I now .

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.

traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

yet for love's sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:

no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.