Heretofore
Understanding the Term 'Heretofore'
'Heretofore' is an Early Modern English adverb meaning 'up to this time' or 'before now.' In the King James Version (1611) and other older translations, it renders several Hebrew terms, most commonly temol (yesterday) and the phrase 'ethmol shilshom (yesterday and the day before, or three days ago). These Hebrew words express a recent past, contrasting with the present moment being described in the narrative.
Key Biblical Appearances and Narrative Function
The term serves a crucial literary and theological function by highlighting moments of discontinuity or unprecedented divine action. In Exodus 4:10, Moses protests to God, "I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant." Here, 'heretofore' (translating temol shilshom) emphasizes Moses's consistent lack of oratory skill, setting the stage for God's power to work through human weakness.
A pivotal use occurs in 1 Samuel 4:7 following the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant in the Philistine camp: "And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore." This marks a dramatic, fear-inducing shift in their experience of warfare, directly attributed to the presence of Israel's God.
Other references include administrative contexts, such as Pharaoh's accusation that the Israelites are idle because they request to worship, saying, "Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD. Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. And the taskmasters of the people went out... saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Ye shall not diminish ought from your bricks of your daily task" (Exodus 5:17-19, KJV, where 'heretofore' appears in v. 14).
Theological Significance of the Concept
The biblical use of 'heretofore' points to a God who acts decisively within history. It often introduces a 'first'—a new act of deliverance, judgment, or revelation that breaks with previous patterns. This reinforces the biblical theme that God is not static or distant but dynamically involved with His people, initiating covenants and salvation. The term draws a line between what was and what now is because of God's intervention, as seen in the crossing of the Jordan (Joshua 3:4) or in Ruth's loyal commitment noted by Boaz (Ruth 2:11). It teaches that faith often involves recognizing and responding to these new acts of God, which redefine reality for His people.
Biblical Context
The term 'heretofore' appears in the King James Version of several Old Testament narratives. Key instances include Moses's call (Exodus 4:10), the oppression in Egypt (Exodus 5:7-8, 14), the instructions before crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:4), Boaz's acknowledgment of Ruth's loyalty (Ruth 2:11), and the Philistine reaction to the Ark (1 Samuel 4:7). It consistently functions to contrast a past state of affairs with a new, divinely orchestrated present moment, often one of crisis, revelation, or deliverance.
Theological Significance
The concept behind 'heretofore' underscores the biblical God as a God of history who acts in time. It highlights the newness of God's interventions—His capacity to do something unprecedented for His people's salvation or judgment. This challenges any notion of a cyclical or predictable universe, pointing instead to a linear history moving toward God's redemptive purposes. It also emphasizes human response: recognizing when God is doing a 'new thing' (cf. Isaiah 43:19) requires faith and obedience, as seen in the responses of Joshua, Samuel, and others.
Historical Background
The Hebrew terms translated 'heretofore' (temol, shilshom) are common Semitic words for recent past time. Their use in the biblical text reflects a Near Eastern cultural context where significant events were understood as divine interruptions in human affairs. The KJV's choice of 'heretofore' reflects 17th-century English, where it was a standard temporal adverb. Modern translations typically replace it with clearer phrases like 'in the past,' 'before now,' or 'never before,' aiming for immediate comprehension while retaining the original temporal contrast.