Prevent

Prevent (some form of קָדִם, φθάνω, both meaning to precede or anticipate) is understood, in our translation of the Scriptures, only in the old Latin sense, as denoting—

1. To come before one is expected or sought (Job 30:27);

2. To go before, or be sooner (Ps 119:147). One is happily disappointed when favors come unasked (Job 3:12; Ps 18:18), or unhappily, when snares and afflictions come unexpectedly (2Sa 22:6).

⇒Definition of prevent

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.