What does πρότερον (próteron) mean in the Bible?
πρότερον (próteron) is a Greek word meaning "previously".
Greek · G4386
πρότερον
Previously
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
πρότερον G4386
Pronunciation próteron
What does πρότερον (próteron) mean in the Bible?
πρότερον (próteron) is a Greek word meaning "previously".
Full entry for πρότερον (G4386) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4386?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), first (2), former (2), formerly (2), before (1).
Where does πρότερον (próteron) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at John 6:62. Its strongest book concentrations include Hebrews (3), John (3), 1 Peter (1), 1 Timothy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 2× John 9:8, Galatians 4:13
first 2× 2 Corinthians 1:15, Hebrews 7:27
former 2× Ephesians 4:22, 1 Peter 1:14
formerly 2× 1 Timothy 1:13, Hebrews 4:6
before 1× John 6:62
earlier 1× John 7:50
early 1× Hebrews 10:32
Show sample aligned rows
John 6:62 πρότερον to before Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative John 7:50 πρότερον to earlier Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative John 9:8 πρότερον to . . . Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative 2 Corinthians 1:15 πρότερον to first Adverb - Comparative Galatians 4:13 πρότερον to . . . Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative Ephesians 4:22 προτέραν to former Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - Comparative 1 Timothy 1:13 πρότερον to formerly Adverb - Comparative Hebrews 4:6 πρότερον to formerly Adverb - Comparative Hebrews 7:27 πρότερον to first Adverb - Comparative Hebrews 10:32 πρότερον to early Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row John 6:62
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 7
John 3 2 Corinthians 1 Galatians 1 Ephesians 1 1 Timothy 1 Hebrews 3 1 Peter 1
Source forms
πρότερον 10x proteron John 6:62, John 7:50, John 9:8, 2 Corinthians 1:15
προτέραν 1x proteran Ephesians 4:22
Parsing patterns
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative 6x John 6:62, John 7:50, John 9:8, Galatians 4:13
Adverb - Comparative 4x 2 Corinthians 1:15, 1 Timothy 1:13, Hebrews 4:6, Hebrews 7:27
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - Comparative 1x Ephesians 4:22
Evidence Summary
Greek word. previously
Source Gloss
previously
Extended definition
:--before, (at the) first, former.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
11 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
John 6:62 Adjective Accusative Singular Neuter
πρότερον; proteron
formerly, before
Read verse John 7:51 Adverb
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse John 9:8 Adjective Accusative Singular Neuter
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse 2 Corinthians 1:15 Adverb
πρότερον, proteron
formerly, before
Read verse Galatians 4:13 Adjective Accusative Singular Neuter
πρότερον. proteron
formerly, before
Read verse Ephesians 4:22 Adjective Accusative Singular Feminine
προτέραν proteran
formerly, before
Read verse 1 Timothy 1:13 Adjective Accusative Singular Masculine
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse Hebrews 4:6 Adverb
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse Hebrews 7:27 Adverb
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse Hebrews 10:32 Adverb
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verse 1 Peter 1:14 Adverb
πρότερον proteron
formerly, before
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Word Origins
πρότερον is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain