UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: long ago, of long ago

Semantic entry: 67.24

Semantic domains: Time

Subdomains: A Point of Time with Reference to Other Points of Time: Before, Long Ago, Now, At the Same Time, When, About, After

Definition: pertaining to a point of time preceding another point of time, with an interval of considerable length{N:001}

Notes: References to a point of time preceding another point of time may express a relationship to an event in the discourse or to the time of the discourse itself. In RV HEB 1:1 · LV HEB 1:1 · Read together HEB 1:1 πάλαι[a] marks a point of time long before the actual writing of this Letter to the Hebrews. The same is true of ἔκπαλαι in RV PE2 3:5 · LV PE2 3:5 · Read together PE2 3:5. In some languages it is necessary to indicate clearly whether the interval is (1) between a prior time and the event mentioned in the discourse or (2) between a prior time and the discourse itself. For example, in RV HEB 1:1 · LV HEB 1:1 · Read together HEB 1:1 it may be necessary to translate ‘long ago before now God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets’ or ‘long ago before now that I am writing …’

Sense 2: all this time, all that time

Semantic entry: 67.141

Semantic domains: Time

Subdomains: Duration of Time with Reference to Some Unit of Time: During, In, While, Throughout

Definition: a considerable and continuous extent of time in the past

Sense 3: already, already for some time

Semantic entry: 67.22

Semantic domains: Time

Subdomains: A Point of Time with Reference to Other Points of Time: Before, Long Ago, Now, At the Same Time, When, About, After

Definition: a point of time preceding another point of time and implying completion, but with a longer interval of time than in the case of ἤδη (67.20: ἤδη)

Notes: The use of πάλαι in RV MRK 15:44 · LV MRK 15:44 · Read together MRK 15:44 would seem to suggest that Jesus‘ death had taken place considerably sooner than what Pilate had thought would happen. In trying to render the implication of πάλαι[c], it may be possible to translate RV MRK 15:44 · LV MRK 15:44 · Read together MRK 15:44 as ‘Pilate called the army officer and asked him if Jesus had indeed already died.’