Bible Dictionary
BEFORE
“Before” may describe place, presence, time, direction, or relationship. To be before God can mean to stand in His presence or enjoy His favor, while geographical usage may indicate an eastern or western position.
Definition
“Before” is used in Scripture for place, presence, time, direction, and relationship. It may mean in front of, in the presence of, earlier than, or in a position relative to another place. To be before God can express enjoyment of His favor.
Biblical Usage
Biblical examples include being before a father in the sense of his presence, being before God in the sense of His favor, and geographical expressions in which “before” and “behind” indicate east and west relative to Canaan.
Historical Background
The English word translates many Hebrew and Greek expressions. Its geographical meaning depends on the customary orientation of places in relation to Canaan.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).</p>