לְפָנִ֣ים ׀ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הָאִישׁ֙ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה עַד־הָרֹאֶ֑ה כִּ֤י לַנָּבִיא֙ הַיּ֔וֹם יִקָּרֵ֥א לְפָנִ֖ים הָרֹאֶֽה׃
(Antigamente em Yisrael, quando alguém ia consultar a Elohim, dizia-se: "Vamos até o Roeh [Vidente]", pois ao navi [profeta] de hoje se chamava antigamente Roeh.)
Guide for the Perplexed
The word is also used as an adverb of time, meaning “before.” Comp. In former time (le-phanim) in Israel” (Ruth 4:7); “Of old (le-phanim) hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth” (Ps. 102:25).