be-timz’: In the sense of "early" is the translation of two Hebrew words:

(1) shakham, a root meaning "to incline the shoulder to a load," hence "to load up," "start early": in Ge 26:31 "they rose up betimes in the morning," also in 2Ch 36:15 (the American Standard [[Revised Version]] "early");

(2) of shachar, a root meaning "to dawn" in Job 8:5; 24:5, the American Standard Revised Version "diligently," and in Pro 13:24, "chasteneth him betimes."

In the Apocrypha (Sirach 6:36) "betimes" is the translation of orthizo, literally, "to rise early in the morning," while in [[Bel and the Dragon]] verse 16 the same word is translated "betime."

In other cases the [[King James Version]] "betimes" appears as "before the time" (Sirach 51:30); "early" (1 Macc 4:52; 11:67); "the mourning" (1 Macc 5:30).

Arthur J. Kinsella

Betimes