Bible Lexicons

adverb of time, not yet, ere, before that (derivation unknown: not found in cognate languages) — construed mostly with the imperfect (with the perfect only Genesis 24:15 ( Genesis 24:45 imperfect), 1 Samuel 3:7 a (v:b imperfect), and בְּטֶרֶם Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:25): —

1 טֶרֶם in an independent sentence, not yet, Genesis 2:5 and all the plants of the field טרם יהיה בארץ were not yet in the earth, etc., Genesis 19:4 טרם ישׁכבו not yet had they lain down, when etc., Genesis 24:15,45; Numbers 11:33; Joshua 2:8; 1 Samuel 3:3,7 (twice in verse); of present time, Exodus 9:30; Exodus 10:7 הֲטֶרֶם תֵּדַע dost thou not yet know, etc.?; in a subordinate clause, ere, before that, Exodus 12:34 they took their dough טרם יחמץ before it was leavened, Joshua 3:1; Psalm 119:67; of future time Isaiah 65:24. More frequently

2בְּטֶרֶם₃₉, with the same force: of past time, Genesis 27:33 I ate of all בטרם תבא before thou camest, Genesis 37:18; Genesis 41:50; Judges 14:18; 1 Samuel 2:15; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 47:1; Ezekiel 16:57; Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:25 (both with perfect); more often of present or future, as Genesis 27:4 בטרם אמות before I die (so Genesis 45:28, compare Psalm 39:14; Job 10:21), Leviticus 14:36; Deuteronomy 31:21; 1 Samuel 9:13; 2 Kings 2:9; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 48:5; Jeremiah 13:16; the imperfect with a frequently force, Exodus 1:19 before the midwife cometh, they are wont to bear, Ruth 3:14; Proverbs 18:13. Pleon. בְּטֶרֶם לֹא Zephaniah 2:2 (twice in verse). Construed with a substantive in the Genitive, Isaiah 17:14 בְּטֶרֶם בֹּקֶר = ere morning, Isaiah 28:4 בְּטֶרֶם קַיִץ; with an infinitive Zephaniah 2:2 a (but read here with ᵐ5 We בְּטֶרֶם לאֹתֵהְיוּן כְּמוֺץ עֹבֵר, without יוֺם, 'before ye become as chaff passing away').

3 מִטֶּרֶם Haggai 2:15 (followed by infinitive) מִטֶּרֶם שׂוּם אֶבֶן from before the laying of one stone upon another, etc.