King James Bible

INSTEAD, insted'. [a compound of in and stead, place; but stead retains its character of a noun, and is followed by of; instead of, in the same manner as in the stead of.]

In the place or room of.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat. Job 31:40.

Absalom made Amasa captain of the hose instead of Joab.

2 Samuel 17:25.

This consideration is instead of a thousand arguments. In this use, instead may be equivalent to equal to.

When instead is used without of following, there is an ellipsis, or some words are understood.