Bible Dictionary
FORMER
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.
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.