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טֶרֶם

𐤈𐤓𐤌

ṭerem

H2962 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to precede, to be before, to not yet be (speculative; root uncertain)

Definition

Adverb indicating a state or time that has not yet occurred; primarily used to denote something that precedes another event or action in time, i.e., 'before' or 'not yet.' It expresses anticipation or postponement, often marking actions, states, or conditions that are pending or have yet to happen.

Semantic Range

before (in time), not yet, ere, prior to, in anticipation of an event or state, in advance of

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. The formation, טֶרֶם (ṭerem), is not clearly derived from any attested Hebrew root, though attempts have been made to link it with speculative roots suggesting interruption or delay. The exact etymology remains unknown.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טֶרֶם occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in narrative and prophetic contexts, to establish the temporal priority of one event relative to another (e.g., Gen 2:5, 'before any shrub of the field was in the earth'). It marks events as not yet begun or realized, and is distinct from עוֹד ('still, yet'), which refers more to ongoing states, and בְּטֶרֶם ('in/at the time before'), an extended prepositional phrase. In contrast to English 'before' (which can be either temporal or causal), טֶרֶם is strictly temporal and is not used to indicate causation. In post-biblical Hebrew, the use of טֶרֶם fades and other constructions (such as בטרם) become more common. Standard English translations often render it as 'before' or 'not yet,' but these may not fully convey its anticipatory nuance, especially in poetic texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before; before, ere, not yet.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

טרם (ṭ-r-m (uncertain)) — to precede, to be before, to not yet be

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2958 טְרוֹם not yet

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2962-01 בְּ/טֶ֥רֶם beterem HR/D before beforehand 36
H2962-05 טֶ֚רֶם terem HD before not yet 14
H2962-06 וּ/בְ/טֶ֨רֶם֙ uveterem HC/R/D and before and in advance of 3
H2962-02 הֲ/טֶ֣רֶם haterem HTd/D do you not yet not yet 1
H2962-04 מִ/טֶּ֧רֶם miterem HR/D before beforehand 1
H2962-03 לְ/נֶ֣גֶד leneged HR/R before not yet 1
H2962-07 וְ/טֶ֛רֶם veterem HC/D and before and before 1

Occurrences in Scripture

57 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2962-05 Genesis 2:5 טֶ֚רֶם terem HD not yet not yet
H2962-05 Genesis 2:5 טֶ֣רֶם terem-2 HD not yet not yet
H2962-05 Genesis 19:4 טֶרֶם֮ terem HD before not yet
H2962-05 Genesis 24:15 טֶרֶם֮ terem HD before not yet
H2962-05 Genesis 24:45 טֶ֨רֶם terem HD before not yet
H2962-01 Genesis 27:4 בְּ/טֶ֥רֶם beterem HR/D before beforehand
H2962-01 Genesis 27:33 בְּ/טֶ֥רֶם beterem HR/D before beforehand
H2962-06 Genesis 37:18 וּ/בְ/טֶ֨רֶם֙ uveterem HC/R/D and before and in advance of
H2962-01 Genesis 41:50 בְּ/טֶ֥רֶם beterem HR/D before beforehand
H2962-01 Genesis 45:28 בְּ/טֶ֥רֶם beterem HR/D before beforehand
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