Lexical Summary terom: Elevation, exaltation, offering Original Word: טְרוֹם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance before A variation of terem; not yet -- before. see HEBREW terem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as terem, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs טֶ֫רֶם54, once (Ruth 3:14 Kt) טְרוֺם, adverb of time, not yet, ere, before that (derivation unknown: not found in cognate languages) — construed mostly with the imperfect (with the perfect only Genesis 24:15 (Genesis 24:45 imperfect), 1 Samuel 3:7 a (v:b imperfect), and בְּטֶרֶם Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:25): — 1 טֶרֶם in an independent sentence, not yet, Genesis 2:5 and all the plants of the field טרם יהיה בארץ were not yet in the earth, etc., Genesis 19:4 טרם ישׁכבו not yet had they lain down, when etc., Genesis 24:15,45; Numbers 11:33; Joshua 2:8; 1 Samuel 3:3,7 (twice in verse); of present time, Exodus 9:30; Exodus 10:7 הֲטֶרֶם תֵּדַע dost thou not yet know, etc.?; in a subordinate clause, ere, before that, Exodus 12:34 they took their dough טרם יחמץ before it was leavened, Joshua 3:1; Psalm 119:67; of future time Isaiah 65:24. More frequently 2 בְּטֶרֶם39, with the same force: of past time, Genesis 27:33 I ate of all בטרם תבא before thou camest, Genesis 37:18; Genesis 41:50; Judges 14:18; 1 Samuel 2:15; Jeremiah 1:5; Jeremiah 47:1; Ezekiel 16:57; Psalm 90:2; Proverbs 8:25 (both with perfect); more often of present or future, as Genesis 27:4 בטרם אמות before I die (so Genesis 45:28, compare Psalm 39:14; Job 10:21), Leviticus 14:36; Deuteronomy 31:21; 1 Samuel 9:13; 2 Kings 2:9; Isaiah 7:16; Isaiah 42:9; Isaiah 48:5; Jeremiah 13:16; the imperfect with a frequently force, Exodus 1:19 before the midwife cometh, they are wont to bear, Ruth 3:14; Proverbs 18:13. Pleon. בְּטֶרֶם לֹא Zephaniah 2:2 (twice in verse). Construed with a substantive in the Genitive, Isaiah 17:14 בְּטֶרֶם בֹּקֶר = ere morning, Isaiah 28:4 בְּטֶרֶם קַיִץ; with an infinitive Zephaniah 2:2a (but read here with ᵐ5 We בְּטֶרֶם לאֹ תֵהְיוּן כְּמוֺץ עֹבֵר, without יוֺם, 'before ye become as chaff passing away'). 3 מִטֶּרֶם Haggai 2:15 (followed by infinitive) מִטֶּרֶם שׂוּם אֶבֶן from before the laying of one stone upon another, etc. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance טְרוֹם (ṭerom) conveys the idea of an interval that is “still before” something else happens. In Ruth 3:14 it marks the moment just prior to dawn, stressing that time was left on the night yet daylight was imminent. The sense is not mere chronology but the critical window in which a matter must be discreetly completed. Occurrence Only once in Scripture—Ruth 3:14—where Ruth rises “before anyone could recognize another.” Context in Ruth 3:14 Boaz had agreed to act as kinsman-redeemer if the nearer relative refused, but he also guarded Ruth’s honor. Rising “טְרוֹם” daybreak allowed Ruth to return to Bethlehem unseen, preventing gossip that might tarnish her reputation or thwart the lawful redemption process Naomi sought. The word therefore underscores Boaz’s righteous concern: “She got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, ‘Let it not be known that a woman came to the threshing floor’” (Berean Standard Bible). Historical and Cultural Background Threshing floors lay outside town, and nightly winnowing protected grain from theft (Ruth 3:2). Customary social boundaries made an unchaperoned woman’s presence there suspicious. Leaving while it was still dark preserved covenantal propriety. The single use of טְרוֹם captures that fragile darkness during the harvest season when moral choices could be compromised yet were instead safeguarded. Theological Themes 1. Protection of Covenant Purity: Boaz and Ruth avoid even the appearance of evil (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:22). Practical Ministry Insights • Integrity requires attention not only to actions but to timing and perception. Christological Connection Boaz is a type of Christ, the greater Redeemer who shields His bride. Just as Boaz ensured Ruth’s honor ṭerom dawn, Jesus, “while it was still dark” (John 20:1), had already risen, securing eternal redemption before the world knew. Application for Believers • Act in uprightness even when unseen. Related Hebrew Concepts While טְרוֹם is unique, it belongs to a family of temporal markers such as עוֹד (“yet, still”) and קוֹדֶם (“before, first”). Together they reveal Scripture’s precision in narrating how God orders events within His redemptive chronology. Forms and Transliterations בְּטֶ֛רֶם בטרם bə·ṭe·rem beTerem bəṭeremLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ruth 3:14 HEB: [בִּטְרֹום כ] (בְּטֶ֛רֶם ק) יַכִּ֥יר KJV: and she rose up before one INT: morning and rose before recognize one 1 Occurrence |
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