### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ṭerem**, represented by `{{H2962}}`, is an adverb that means **not yet** or **before**. It appears **9 times** across **8 unique verses**, and is used to establish a state of non-occurrence prior to a specific event or action. Its root meaning suggests an interruption or suspension, highlighting a condition that exists before something else comes to pass.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H2962}}` is used to frame critical moments in time. In the creation account, it is used twice to describe a world where plants and herbs existed **before** they grew, because the LORD had not yet sent rain [[Genesis 2:5]]. It is also used to indicate a point of delayed awareness, as when Pharaoh's servants ask him, "knowest thou not **yet** that Egypt is destroyed?" [[Exodus 10:7]]. In a more personal context, it marks a physical threshold, as when Isaac desires to bless his son **before** he dies [[Genesis 27:4]], or when the Hebrew women give birth **ere** the midwives can arrive [[Exodus 1:19]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are often paired with `{{H2962}}` to define the action that has not yet occurred or is about to happen:
* `{{H3335}}` **yâtsar** (to mould into a form): This word is used for God's act of creation. It is presented as an event that follows God's foreknowledge, as He knew Jeremiah **before** He **formed** him in the belly [[Jeremiah 1:5]].
* `{{H6779}}` **tsâmach** (to sprout): This word for growth is used in contrast to the state described by **ṭerem**. In the beginning, the herb of the field existed **before** it **grew** [[Genesis 2:5]].
* `{{H3045}}` **yâdaʻ** (to know): This verb has a crucial relationship with `{{H2962}}`. God's divine foreknowledge exists **before** a person is even formed [[Jeremiah 1:5]], while human understanding may be incomplete, as when Samuel did not **yet know** the LORD [[1 Samuel 3:7]].
* `{{H935}}` **bôwʼ** (to go or come): This verb of motion is used to sequence events. The Hebrew women were delivered **ere** (before) the midwives could **come in** unto them [[Exodus 1:19]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H2962}}` is most evident in its connection to God's sovereignty and foreknowledge.
* **Divine Foreknowledge:** Its most powerful use is in [[Jeremiah 1:5]], where God declares, "**Before** I formed thee in the belly I knew thee... and **before** thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee." This establishes that God's purpose and sanctification for a person exist prior to their physical life.
* **Imminent Judgment:** The word can create a sense of immediate consequence. In the wilderness, God's wrath was kindled against the people while the meat was **yet** between their teeth, "**ere** it was chewed" [[Numbers 11:33]], showing judgment that preceded the completion of the act.
* **Marking Spiritual Thresholds:** It is used to call people to consider a turning point. The Israelites were told to reflect on the time **before** a stone was laid upon another in the temple of the LORD [[Haggai 2:15]], marking the transition from desolation to the beginning of restoration.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2962}}` is a specific adverb that marks the boundary between non-occurrence and occurrence. While used infrequently, it is pivotal in contexts ranging from the order of creation to the expression of divine foreknowledge. The word **ṭerem** serves to underscore God's ultimate authority over time, showing that His knowledge, purpose, and judgment are established **before** events unfold in the human realm.
TRV