Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To carry or bring (something) forward, or before one; hence, to bring for consideration, acceptance, judgment, etc.; to offer; to present; to proffer; to address; -- said especially of a request, prayer, petition, claim, charge, etc. 2. (v. t.) To go before, or be before, in estimation; to outrank; to surpass. 3. (v. t.) To cause to go before; hence, to advance before others, as to an office or dignity; to raise; to exalt; to promote; as, to prefer an officer to the rank of general. 4. (v. t.) To set above or before something else in estimation, favor, or liking; to regard or honor before another; to hold in greater favor; to choose rather; -- often followed by to, before, or above. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia PREFER pre-fur': Does not always have the general meaning "to choose before another." In Psalm 137:6, it does have this sense and the two versions agree; in Esther 2:9, the Revised Version (British and American) has "removed" where the King James Version has "preferred"; in Daniel 6:3, "distinguished" takes its place; in John 1:15, 30, "become" is substituted for "preferred"; in 1:27, "preferred" drops out entirely; in Romans 12:10, the versions agree.

Multi-Version Concordance Prefer (10 Occurrences) 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. (See NAS NIV) Philemon 1:9 yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. (See RSV) Deuteronomy 21:16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not prefer the son of the beloved first-born, before the son of the hated, which is indeed the first-born: (WBS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." (See NIV) 1 Kings 21:6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him,'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' He answered,'I will not give you my vineyard.'" (See NIV) Job 36:21 Take heed, don't regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction. (See NAS NIV) Psalms 137:6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you; if I don't prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS) Jeremiah 8:3 And death will be desired more than life by the rest of this evil family who are still living in all the places where I have sent them away, says the Lord of armies. (See RSV NIV) Jeremiah 40:4 Now, behold, I release you this day from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don't: behold, all the land is before you; where it seems good and right to you to go, there go. (See NAS) Ezekiel 16:32 A wife who commits adultery! who takes strangers instead of her husband! (See NIV)