Former means preceding in time, order, or position. As a noun it can also mean a maker or framer, while some passages use it geographically for the eastern or earlier sea.
Definition
Former means preceding in time, order, or position. As a noun, it can mean a maker or framer. In geographical language it may describe the eastern or earlier sea in contrast with the western sea.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses former for what came earlier, stood first, or belonged to a previous time. It can also refer to God as the former or maker of all things. “Former sea” is used geographically, while some older renderings such as “former iniquities” receive more precise translations in later versions.
Historical Background
The supplied material identifies Hebrew and Greek terms meaning first, foremost, earlier, or maker. In Zechariah, “former sea” is understood by the Revised Version as the eastern sea, identified there with the Dead Sea, in contrast with the Mediterranean or western sea.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>for'-mer:</p><p>The word in the sense of "maker," "framer," occurs only in Jer 51:19, "He is the former (from yatsar, "to form") of all things." The adjective, in the sense of preceding in the order of time, is commonly in Hob the translation of ri'shon, "first," "foremost" (Ge 40:13; Nu 21:26; De 24:4, etc.); in Greek of proteros (Eph 4:22; Heb 10:32; 1Pe 1:14); and in two cases (Ac 1:1; Re 21:4) of protos, where the Revised Version (British and American) has (in Ac in the margin) "the first." As denoting place or position the word occurs in the Old Testament in Zec 14:8, "the former sea" as translation of qadhmoni, "in front," where the Revised Version (British and American) has "eastern," i.e. the Dead Sea, in contrast with the Mediterranean, or western sea (compare Eze 47:18; Joe 2:20). For "former iniquities" (Ps 79:8) the Revised Version (British and American) has simply "the iniquities"; Other changes may be seen in Nu 6:12; Isa 65:7; Eze 36:11; Mic 4:8; Hag 2:3.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>
