Bible Dictionary
HITHERTO
Hitherto means up to this place or time, or thus far. Biblical passages use it to mark the extent of God’s past help, blessing, or activity.
Definition
Hitherto means up to this place or time, thus far, or until now. It may refer either to a point reached in space or to the extent of an earlier period or condition.
Biblical Usage
Biblical passages use the word of God bringing someone thus far, helping his people up to the present, blessing them until now, or describing something that had not happened previously. In John 5:17 it means “even until now,” and in John 16:24 it means “up till now.”
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>hith'-er-too (to this): Used of both place and time. It is the translation of various words and phrases:</p><p>(1) Of place, `adh halom (2Sa 7:18, "Thou hast brought me hitherto," the Revised Version (British and American) "thus far"; 1Ch 17:16; perhaps 1Sa 7:12, `adh hennah, "Hitherto hath Yahweh helped us" (in connection with the setting up of the stone Ebenezer)) belongs to this head; hennah is properly an adverb of place; it might always be rendered "thus far."</p><p>(2) Of time, `adh koh, "unto this" (Ex 7:16, "Hitherto thou hast not hearkened"; Jos 17:14, "Hitherto Yahweh hath blessed me"); me'az, "from then" (2Sa 15:34, the Revised Version (British and American) "in time past"); hale'ah, "beyond," etc. (Isa 18:7, "terrible from their beginning hitherto," the Revised Version (British and American) "onward"); `adh kah, Aramaic (Da 7:28, the Revised Version (British and American) "here," margin "hitherto"); `adh hennah, "unto here" (Jud 16:13; 1Sa 1:16; Ps 71:17, etc.); achri tou deuro (Ro 1:13, "was let (the Revised Version (British and American) "hindered") hitherto"); heos arti, "until now" (Joh 5:17, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" the Revised Version (British and American) "even until now," that is, "on the Sabbath as well as on other days', and I do as He does"; Joh 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive," that is "up till now"; "now ask in my name and ye shall receive"); oupo, "not yet" (1Co 3:2, "Hitherto ye were not able to bear it," the Revised Version (British and American) "not yet").</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>