Bible Dictionaries
Rather

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

the comparative degree of mala, "very, very much," is frequently translated "rather," e.g., Matthew 10:6,28; 1 Corinthians 14:1,5; sometimes followed by "than," with a connecting particle, e.g., Matthew 18:13 ("more than"); or without, e.g., John 3:19; Acts 4:19 , RV (AV, "more"); in 1 Corinthians 9:12 , AV, "rather" (RV, "yet more"); 1 Corinthians 12:22 , RV, "rather" (AV, "more"); 2 Corinthians 3:9 (ditto); Philemon 1:16 (ditto); in 2 Peter 1:10 , AV, "the rather" (RV, "the more"). See MORE.

"to will, wish," is translated "I had rather" in 1 Corinthians 14:19 . See DESIRE , B, No. 6.

"beyond, in comparison with," is translated "rather than" in Romans 1:25 , RV (AV, "more than;" marg., "rather").

"but, on the contrary," is translated "and rather" in Luke 17:8 .

Notes: (1) In Hebrews 13:19 , AV, perissoteros, "the more exceedingly" (RV), is translated "the rather." (2) In Luke 11:41; 12:31 , AV, plen, an adverb signifying "yet, howbeit," is translated "rather" (RV, "howbeit"). (3) In Romans 3:8 , AV, the negative particle me, "not," is translated with "rather" in italics (RV, "why not"). (4) In Luke 10:20 , AV, "rather rejoice," there is no word in the original for "rather" (see the RV).