Dictionaries :: Better (Be)

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Better (Be):

used

(a) transitively, means "to carry through" or "about" (dia, "through," phero, "to carry"), Mar 11:16 ("carry... through"); Act 13:49; 27:27 ("driven to and fro");

(b) intransitively,

(1) "to differ," Rom 2:18; Gal 2:6; Phl 1:10;

(2) "to excel, be better," e.g., Mat 6:26; 10:31 ("of more value"); Mat 12:12; Luk 12:7, 24; 1Cr 15:41; Gal 4:1; some would put Rom 2:18 and Phl 1:10 here (see marg.).
See CARRY, DIFFER, DRIVE, EXCELLENT, MATTER (make), PUBLISH.

Better (Be):

"to be over or above (a number), to be more than enough, to be pre-eminent, superior," Mat 5:20, is translated "are we the better," in 1Cr 8:8 (cp. 15:58; Rom 15:13; 2Cr 3:9; 8:7; Phl 1:9; Col 2:7; 1Th 4:1, 10).
See ABOUND.

Better (Be):

signifies "to indemnify, pay expenses, pay taxes" (from luo, "to loose," telos, "toll, custom"); hence, "to be useful, advantageous, to be better," Luk 17:2.

Better (Be):

lit. means "to hold or have above" (huper, "above," echo, "to hold"); hence, metaphorically, to be superior to, to be better than, Phl 2:3; 1Pe 2:13, "supreme," in reference to kings; in Rom 13:1, "higher;" Phl 3:8, "excellency," more strictly "the surpassing thing, (namely, the knowledge of Christ);" in Phl 4:7 "passeth."
See EXCELLENCY, HIGHER, PASS, SUPREME.

Notes:

(1) In Rom 3:9 the RV rightly translates proecho (which there is used in the Passive Voice, not the Middle) "are we in worse case than...?," i.e., "are we surpassed?" "are we at a disadvantage?" The question is, are the Jews, so far from being better off than the Gentiles, in such a position that their very privileges bring them into a greater disadvantage or condemnation than the Gentiles? The AV "are we better" does not convey the meaning.

(2) Sumphero, in Mat 18:6, AV, is translated "it were better for him," RV, "profitable." See Mat 5:29, 30 etc.
See BRING, EXPEDIENT, GOOD, D, Note (2), PROFITABLE.