G4387 πρότερος (próteros)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study

Adjective

Quick Definition

πρότερος, α, ον Adj former, before

Strong's Definition

prior or previous

Derivation: comparative of G4253 (πρό);

KJV Usage: former

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

πρότερος, -a, -ov, (compar. of πρό); [fr. Hom. down], beJore, prior; of time, former: ἡ προτέρα ἀναστροφή, Eph. iv. 22. Neut. adverbially, before (something else is or was done): Jn. vii. 51 RG; 2 Co. i. 15; opp. to ἔπειτα, Ileb. vii. 27; before i.e. aforetime, in time past: Jn. vii. 50[L Tr WIL]; Heb. iv. 6; and RGin 1 Tim. i. 13; also τὸ πρότερον (contrasting the past with the present [cf. πάλαι, 1 fin.]), Jn. vi. 62; ix. 8, and LT Tr WH in 1 Tim. i. 13, (1 Mace. iii. 46; v. 1; xi. 34, 39; Deut. ii.12; Josh. xi. 10; Hdt. 7, 75; Xen., Plat.) ; i.q. our the first time, Gal. iv. 13 (on which cf. Meyer); it is placed between the art. and the noun, as αἱ πρότερον ἡμέραι, the former days, Heb. x. 32; αἱ πρότ. ἐπιθυμίαι, the lusts which you formerly indulged, 1 Pet. i. 14.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

πρότερος proteros 11x

former, prior, Eph. 4:22; before, formerly, Jn. 6:62

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον,

[in LXX for לִפָנִים, רִאשׁוֹן, etc.;]

before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph 4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jo 7:50, II Co 1:15, He 4:6; opp. to ἔπειτα, He 7:27; τὸ π., Jo 6:62 9:8, Ga 4:13, I Ti 1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, He 10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, I Pe 1:14.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

πρότερος. The comparative rarity of πρότερος in the NT, where it occurs only eleven times (never in Lk), as contrasted with the 200 appearances of πρῶτος, meets usagainin the papyri. For the adj., as in Eph 4**, cf. P Fay 345 (A.D. 161) κατὰ τὴν τῶν προτέρων ἐτῶν συνήθειαν, ‘according to the custom of former years,” and for the neut. used adverbially see BGU IV. 10964 (i/ii A.D.) ὃν (sc. γραμματέα) πρότερον εἶχον» P Lond 122119 (a.p. 105) (= III. p. 25) ἐν οἰ[κί]ᾳ πρότερον ᾿Κλαυδίας, and with the art. P Tebt II. 302° (A.D. 71-2) ἀρούρας φδ τὸ πρότερον τῶν προκι[μένων θεῶν, ‘* 500} arourae which previously belonged to the aforesaid gods.” In view of these exx. we are probably right in understanding τὸ πρότερον in Gal 413 in the general sense of ‘ previously,” ‘‘ originally,” rather than ‘‘on the former of two visits” (cf. Lake Zarlier Epp. of St. Paul, p. 265 f.): in all the other appearances of the phrase in the NT. In the following exx. πρότερον is best rendered by our English ‘‘first’’-—P Petr I. 2915 (iii/p.c.) γίνωσκε δὲ Kal ὅτι ὕδωρ ἕκαστος τῶν ὅρων τὴν ἄμπελον φυτευομένην πρότερον δεῖν φασίν, [o] [δὲ ὑἸπάρχειν, ‘* know, also, that each of the watchers says that the planted vines want water first, and that they have none” (Ed.), P Oxy X. 12819 (A.p. 21) ἐφ᾽ ὧι Kopilopéyoy [τοῦ] ᾿Ιωσήπου ταῦτα πρότερον δώσει λόγο[ν] τούτων, ‘on condition that when Joseph receives it he shall first render an account of it” (Edd.), and P Fay 3215 (A.D. 131) ἐὰν δέ τι κατὰ τούτ(ου) ἐξοικονομῶ πρότερον so also ἀποδίξω ὑπάρχειν, ‘if I alienate any of my rights over it, I will first establish my title to the ownership ’’ (Edd.). See also 5.v. πρῶτος.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

πρότερος (proteros) — before. πρότερος and πρῶτος, comparative and superlative formed from πρό, opposed to ὕστερος, ὕστατος. comparative πρότερος, α, ον,

I. of Place, before, in front, π. πόδες the fore-feet, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. ἵπποι horses in front, [Refs 5th c.BC+] — but mostly,

II. of Time, former, earlier, ἄνδρες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; οἱ π. men of former times, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: also, older, opposed to ὁπλότερος, [Refs]; but παῖδες π. children by the first or a former marriage, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τῇ προτέρῃ (i.e. ἡμέρᾳ) on the day before, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἠοῖ τῇ π. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τοῦ π. ἐνιαυτοῦ the year before, [Refs]; τοῖς π. Παναθηναίοις the preceding P., [Refs]; τὰ π. what has preceded, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]:—frequently used predicatively, sometimes where we should expect the adverb (which is never used by [Refs 8th c.BC+]

II.2. as regular comparative, with genitive, ἐμέο πρότερος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τῇ π. ἡμέρᾳ τῆς τροπῆς the day before.. , [Refs 5th c.BC+]

III. of Rank, Worth, and generally of Precedence, superior, τῷ γένει, τῇ δυνάμει, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. τινὸς πρός τι superior to him in.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τι ἄγειν, π. ποιήσασθαι τὰ σὰ πράγματα, [Refs 4th c.AD+]

IV. after [Refs 8th c.BC+] frequently as adverb, before, earlier, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὀλίγον π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πολλοῖσι ἔτεσι π. τούτων[Refs 4th c.BC+]; also πρὸ τῶν Περσικῶν δέκα ἔτεσι π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τούτου π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, π. ἢ βασιλεῦσαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; by πρὶν ἤ with verb in Indic., [Refs]; also οὐ π. εἰ μὴ.. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; οὐ π. ἕως.., or ἕως ἂν.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]., also, for the first time, Ep. Gal.[Refs 5th c.BC+]: the adverb is frequently put between Article and substantive, ὁ π. βασιλεύς [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B superlative πρῶτος, η, ον, Doric dialect πρᾶτος (which see): __B.I as adjective, __B.I.1 of Place, foremost, πρώτοισιν ἐνὶ προμάχοισι μιγέντα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν πρώτοις, μετὰ πρώτοισι alone, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τῆς πρώτης τάττειν (i.e. τάξεως) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν π. ῥυμῷ at the front or end of the pole, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πρώτῃσι θύρῃσιν at the outermost doors, [Refs]; π. ξύλον the front bench, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ π. πόδες, like{πρόσθιοι}, [Refs] __B.I.2 of Time, στάντα πρὸς π. ἕω looking towards first dawn, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.I.3 of Order, serving as ordinal to εἷς, ἄεθλα θῆκε.. τῷ πρώτῳ· ἀτὰρ αὖ τῷ δευτέρῳ.., αὐτὰρ τῷ τριτάτῳ.., κτλ., [Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to τελευταῖος, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; opposed to τανύστατος, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ τοῦ π. [ἱερείου] first-offered, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν τοῖς π. λόγοις in the earlier books, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐν πρώτοις among the first, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; hence, above all, especially, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in Attic dialect, ἐν τοῖς πρῶτοι (see. ὁ, ἡ, τό [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.I.3.b Philos., first in order of existence, primary, αἱ π. οὐσίαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; primitive, simple, οἰκία π., ἡ π. πόλις, [Refs]; ὁ π. συλλογισμός normal, typical, [Refs]; τὰ π. σώματα, μόρια,= τὰ ὁμοιομερῆ, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; πρῶτα κατὰ φύσιν, e.g. health, perception, [Refs] __B.I.3.c in Mathematics texts, πρῶτοι ἀριθμοί prime numbers, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; but also, first numbers (= 1 to 100,000,000) in the notation of [Refs 3rd c.BC+] __B.I.3.d πρῶτος is sometimes used where we should expect πρότερος, Αἰνείας δὲ πρῶτος ἀκόντισεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: in late Greek followed by genitive, πρῶτός μου ἦν [NT+2nd c.AD+]; ἀλόχου πρῶτος before his wife, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.I.4 of Rank or Dignity, μετὰ πρώτοισιν among the first men of the state, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; διαβάλλειν τοὺς π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ π. τῆς πόλεως, as a title, [Refs]; ὁ π. τῆς νήσου [NT]; τῶν π. φίλων, title at the Ptolemaic court, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τῶν π., as military title, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: with genitive, ἐν πρώτοισι Μυκηναίων [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.I.5 of Degree, first, highest, μοῖρα [Refs] __B.II as substantive in neuter plural πρῶτα, τά, __B.II.1 (i.e. ἆθλα), first prize, τὰ π. λαβών [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.II.2 first part, beginning, τῆς Ἰλιάδος τὰ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν τοῖς π. [Refs] __B.II.3 first, highest, in degree, τὰ π. τᾶς λιμῶ (Doric dialect) the extremities of famine, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; φρενῶν ἐς τὰ ἐμεωυτοῦ π. οὔκω ἀνήκω I have not yet come to the highest development of my judgment, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, ἐὼν τῶν Ἐρετριέων τὰ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Λάμπων.. Αἰγινητέων [ἐὼν] τὰ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐστὶν τὰ π. τῆς ἐκεῖ μοχθηρίας (of a person) [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.4 Philos., primary things, elements, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.II.5 in Logic, the first undemonstrable propositions, on which all future conclusions rest, [Refs] __B.III in Adverbial phrases, __B.III.1 τὴν πρώτην (i.e. ὥραν, ὁδόν) first, for the present, just now, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.III.2 with Preps., ἀπὸ πρώτης (i.e. ἀρχῆς) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐκ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; παρὰ τὴν π. the first time, opposed to ἐπὶ τῆς δευτέρας, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.III.3 frequently as adverb in neuter singular and plural, πρῶτον, πρῶτα, __B.III.3.a first, in the first place, πρῶτόν τε καὶ ὕστατον (vulgar form ὕστερον) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τί π. τοι ἔπειτα, τί δ᾽ ὑστάτιον καταλέξ; [Refs 8th c.BC+]; frequently answered only by δέ, [Refs]; sometimes the answering clause must be supplied, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρῶτα μὲν.., ἔπειτα δὲ.. X [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπεί σε πρῶτα κιχάνω since my first meeting is with you, [Refs 8th c.BC+], first, in the first place, at the beginning, ὡς τὸ π. ὑπέστην καὶ κατένευσα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸ μὲν οὖν π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ π..., μετὰ ταῦτα.. [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.b too early, before the time, ἦ τ᾽ ἄρα καὶ σοὶ πρῶτα (variant for{πρωΐ}) παραστήσεσθαι ἔμελλε Μοῖρ᾽ ὀλοή [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.c ={πρότερον}, before, ἢν.. πρῶτον ἀπόλωμαι κακῶς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θάλασσα π. ἦν ἢ γενέσθαι γῆν variant in [Refs 4th c.BC+] __B.d first, for the first time, οὐ.. νῦν πρῶτα ποδώκεος ἄντ᾽ Ἀχιλῆος στήσομαι [Refs 8th c.BC+] __B.e πρῶτον, πρῶτα are used after the relative pronoun and after relative adverbs, like Engl.once (= at all), οὐδ᾽ ἐνοσίχθων λήθετ᾽ ἀπειλάων, τὰς.. Ὀδυσῆϊ π. ἐπηπείλησε [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μοῖραν δ᾽ οὔ τινά φημι πεφυγμένον ἔμμεναι ἀνδρῶν.. ἐπὴν τὰ π. γένηται when once he is born,[Refs 8th c.BC+]; also ἐπεὶ τὸ (or τὰ) π. now that.. , ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ οὖν τὸ π. ἀνέκραγον, οὐκ ἐπικεύσω now that I have spoken up,[Refs 8th c.BC+]participle, τῷ ῥ᾽ Αἴας τὸ π. ἐφεζόμενος μέγ᾽ ἀάσθη (the rock) on which once seated Aeschylus blasphemed, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: the sense as soon as is never necessary in [Refs 8th c.BC+], but is possible in [Refs 8th c.BC+]; δινέμεν εὖτ᾽ ἂν πρῶτα φανῇ σθένος Ὠαρίωνος when once (or perhaps, as soon as), [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὅπως τις πρῶτα γένοιτο πάντας ἀποκρύπτεσκε as soon as each was born, [Refs]; ὡς τὸ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; αὖθίς με ἀνερέσθαι ὅταν ἐντύχῃς πρῶτον the first time you meet me, [Refs 5th c.BC+] __B.IV adverb πρώτως primarily, first in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; π. καθ᾽ αὑτό, opposed to κατὰ συμβεβηκός, [Refs 2nd c.AD+] __B.IV.2 ὅτε π. ἐπεδήμησεν.. when he first visited.., [Refs 2nd c.AD+] —(From πρῶτος was formed a new _superlative_ πρώτιστος, which see)

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

A. Compar., πρότερος, -α, -ον, [in LXX for רִאשׁוֹן ,לִפָנִים, etc. ;] before, of time, place, rank, etc.; in NT always of Time, before, former: Eph.4:22. Adverbially, πρότερον, before, aforetime, formerly: Jhn.7:50, 2Co.1:15, Heb.4:6; opposite to ἔπειτα, Heb.7:27; τὸ π., Jhn.6:62 9:8, Gal.4:13, 1Ti.1:13; αἱ π. ἡμέραι, Heb.10:32; αἱ π. ἐπιθυμίαι, 1Pe.1:14.† (AS)

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Former (first) (4387) proteros

Remember (363) (anamimnesko from ana = again + mimnesko = remember so literally recall again is more forceful than mimnesko alone) carries idea of carefully thinking back and reconstructing something in one’s mind, not merely remembering. Call to remembrance. Cause to remember. To remind someone of something. In passive voice means to be reminded or to remember. Remember is in the middle voice which is reflexive and can be rendered something like "remind yourselves" (cp similar use 2Cor 7:15). John MacArthur comments that the idea of anamimnesko in this passage... is that these fellow Jews, who were so close to salvation, should, truth-by-truth and event-by-event, look back on what they had learned and on what they had experienced because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This would be a strong deterrent to apostasy and a strong encouragement to belief. Anamimnesko is stronger than the simple verb mimnesko, and in this verse is a command in the present tense (present imperative) charging his faithful readers to continually recall to their minds the truths listed ("advantages, actions, accounting" in above table), one by one. Anamimnesko carries the idea of carefully thinking back over something in one’s mind, not simply remembering (2Cor 7:15). Compare the writer's charge here to the charge by Joshua to the leaders of the tribes to set up stones to function as signs (memorials)... Joshua 4:7 (Context = Josh 4:5, 6) then you shall say to them, ââ¬ËBecause the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Anamimnesko - 6x in 6v - NAS = remember(1), remembered(1), remembers(1), remind(2), reminded(1). Mark 11:21 Being reminded, Peter said to Him, "Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered." Mark 14:72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. Comment: This surely is one of the most poignant NT uses of anamimnesko! Put yourself in Peter's sandals for a moment, imagining his body heart rate pick up as he heard the first ominous crow of a rooster crow. Surely he won't crow again. And then as the second crow sounded forth imagine how he must have painfully recalled to his mind his Master's prophetic prediction! 1 Corinthians 4:17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 2 Corinthians 7:15 His (Titus - 2Co 7:13, 14) affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all (This "reminds" me of one of my favorite verses for those I have had the privilege to disciple - 3John 1:4), how you received him with fear and trembling. 2 Timothy 1:6-note For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Comment: Paul is constantly actively stirring up "embers" of past memories to stimulate Timothy not to shrink from the sufferings (reproach and tribulation) that a stand for Christ is "guaranteed" to bring but that he should press on to maturity, to run the race with endurance, to fight the good fight, to finish the course, to keep the faith. Paul is saying in essence "Remember when God did this or that for us...when He answered our prayers so clearly...when He removed incredible obstacles...when He performed the impossible...etc. Beloved of the Father, may He grant each of us His all sufficient grace to continually have a ready recall of the great things God has done in our life so that we are encouraged and confident that He will complete the work He has begun in each of us (Php1:6-note). Hebrews 10:32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, Anamimnesko - 19x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Gen 41:9; Exod 23:13; Num 5:15; 10:9; 2 Sam 18:18; 20:24; 1 Kgs 4:20; 17:18; 2 Kgs 18:18, 37; Job 24:20; Ps 109:14; Jer 4:16; Ezek 21:23f; 23:19; 29:16; 33:13, 16. Here are some representative uses... Numbers 5:15 the man shall then bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring as an offering for her one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall not pour oil on it nor put frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of memorial, a reminder (Hebrew = zakar; Lxx - anamimnesko) of iniquity. Numbers 10:9 "When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered (Hebrew = zakar; Lxx - anamimnesko) before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies. Beloved you may have begun well and if so you certainly want to end well. Here the writer of Hebrews says that a major component of finishing well is to remember well. And so the writer seeks to remind and recall them to manifest the love and steadfastness they had exhibited when they first fell in love with Jesus (cp Rev 2:4-note, Rev 2:5-note). Oh, how we all need to hear and heed the sage writer's plea! S Lewis Johnson... Now, the encouragement that he wants to give them is the same kind of encouragement that the author offered in the 6th chapter. You can see how this is very much upon his heart; the encouragement of believers who have been suffering for their faith. Back in Hebrews 6:10, he wrote to them, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” And, you’ll notice, He 10:32, reminds one of that, “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.” And then in Hebrews 6:12, he said, “[But] do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” And in Hebrews 10:36, he says, “For you have need of endurance, so that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Hebrews) To have enduring faith in trials, remember how God worked in the past (He 10:32, 33, 34). Steven Cole... “The former days” refers to the time just after these Hebrew Christians had been saved. The author draws their minds back to how God had worked in their lives during that time, in spite of some very difficult circumstances. His point is, “You did well then, so you can hang in there now and in the future if persecution hits.” He reminds them of three things that were true of them as new converts, which also are true of all believers: Remember how God enlightened you with a new, godly understanding of life. Unbelievers are described in Scripture as being spiritually blind, unable to “see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” (2Co 4:4) Only God can command the light to shine out of darkness. (2Co 4:6) He “shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2Co 4:4, 6). Before God opened our eyes, we did not even see our need for the Savior. We mistakenly thought that we were good enough to get into heaven by our own righteousness. We had no idea of how terrible our sins were or of how holy God is. We did not appreciate the fact that the Son of God gave Himself on the cross to pay our debt of sin. But then, while we were yet in such darkness, God graciously opened our eyes. With the converted slave trader, John Newton, we could sing, “I once was blind, but now I see!” I remind you, however, that the apostates had experienced some degree of enlightenment, and yet they were not truly saved (He 6:4-note). It is possible to have a fair amount of theological under-standing, and yet be lost! Some men have devoted their lives to studying the Bible and writing scholarly books. But these scholars have never repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ as Savior. They are “enlightened,” but headed for eternal destruction.