{Before Abraham was} (prin Abraam genesthai). Usual idiom
with prin in positive sentence with infinitive (second aorist
middle of ginomai) and the accusative of general reference,
"before coming as to Abraham," "before Abraham came into
existence or was born." {I am} (eg(9320)eimi). Undoubtedly here
Jesus claims eternal existence with the absolute phrase used of
God. The contrast between genesthai (entrance into existence of
Abraham) and eimi (timeless being) is complete. See the same
contrast between en in  1:1  and egeneto in  1:14 . See the
contrast also in  Ps 90:2  between God (ei, art) and the
mountains (gen(8874)h(886e)ai). See the same use of eimi in  Joh
6:20  9:9  8:24,28  18:6 .