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# instead

adverb (instead; instead of)

«instead» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Instead means in place of something else: We had no milk, so we drank water instead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#m1)
2. «Instead of» comes before the thing that is replaced: tea instead of coffee. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#m2)

### In the lessons

a different first step in an imagined scene («What if at the start I had put two pears instead?»); the problem must be worked out again with the new number; in everyday life choosing one thing in place of another; in stories a plan changes

### Examples

- What if at the start I had put two pears instead of what I put? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x1)
- Ali bought 5 pens instead of 3. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x2)
- Instead of 4 boxes, there are 6. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x3)
- It was raining, so we played inside instead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x4)
- Can I have juice instead of milk? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x5)
- Walk instead of running in the corridor. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x6)
- Instead of crying, she laughed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x7)
- Use a pencil instead of a pen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x8)
- It made Peter kick instead of stab. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/#x9)

### Note

Replace one step and work the scene out again. Trap: «5 pens instead of 3» means 5 pens, not 5 + 3. «Instead» usually goes at the end of a sentence; «instead of» before a noun or an -ing verb.

## In Jewish tradition

Means in place of. The Levites are taken in place of the firstborn.

**Interpretation.** The Levites serve in place of the firstborn of Israel, who were spared in Egypt. Tradition sees this as a sign that the firstborn belong to God.

### Examples

- And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel. (Torah NUM.8.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x1)
- Now therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. (Torah GEN.44.33, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x2)
- And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a son, and called his name Seth: 'for God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.' (Torah GEN.4.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x3)
- Instead of restoring our fields, he divideth them.' (Prophets MIC.2.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x4)
- And Absalom had set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. (Prophets 2SA.17.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x5)
- Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and noisome weeds instead of barley. (Writings JOB.31.40, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/#x6)

### Note

Replace one step and work the scene out again. Trap: «5 pens instead of 3» means 5 pens, not 5 + 3. «Instead» usually goes at the end of a sentence; «instead of» before a noun or an -ing verb.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «instead» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/instead/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«instead» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/instead.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «instead» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/instead/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«instead» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/instead.html) on Mova free.