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אָחַר

𐤀𐤇𐤓

ʼâchar

H309 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To remain behind, linger, or be delayed. The verb אָחַר primarily denotes being later, lagging, or not proceeding at the same time as others. It may refer to a physical or temporal action of staying back, lingering in place, or deferring an action. In contexts, it carries the nuance of waiting, tarrying, or being slow, often in contrast to promptness or timeliness.

Semantic Range

to remain behind, to linger, to be delayed, to tarry, to procrastinate, to be late, to defer, to postpone, to be slow in action or response, to stay longer

Root / Etymology

From the root אחר, meaning 'to be behind, after, or later.' The root conveys the core sense of something that comes afterward or remains later than expected. The derived verb form in the qal stem expresses the idea of actively being or staying behind in space or time.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אָחַר appears chiefly with reference to physical or temporal delay. For example, it describes individuals or groups who linger or fall behind (e.g., Genesis 22:19, Joshua 2:16). It can denote extended stay or hesitation before action. The word is not intrinsically negative but may carry negative implications if delay is inappropriate to the context. The sense of deferral or tardiness can be colored by narrative or situational judgment—delay may be wise, leisurely, or culpable depending on context. The nuance is distinct from words meaning 'to wait' with positive expectation (such as קוה, to hope/wait). In later periods, related nouns from the same root (אַחֵר, 'after, other'; אַחַר, 'after') developed more abstract temporal or spatial senses. Standard English translations sometimes flatten distinctions, rendering both neutral and negative delays alike as 'tarry' or 'stay.' In post-biblical Hebrew, the root evolves further, often signaling lateness or postponement.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to loiter (i.e. be behind); by implication to procrastinate; continue, defer, delay, hinder, be late (slack), stay (there), tarry (longer).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r) — be behind, come after, be late, tarry

Root אחר to be behind, come after, be late, tarry
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H268 אָחוֹר rear
H310 אַחַר after, behind
H311 אַחַר behind / after
H312 אַחֵר another (masculine)
H313 אַחֵר another one

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H309-07 תְאַחֵ֑ר teacher HVpi2ms shall you delay you delay you delay 4
H309-05 תְּאַחַֽר teachar HVpj2ms delay may you linger behind delay 3
H309-10 יְאַחֵר֙ yeacher HVpi3ms delay he will delay delay 2
H309-04 מְאַחֲרֵ֣י meacharey HVprmpc delayers from behind delaying 2
H309-01 אֵחַ֤ר echar HVpp3ms deferred he delayed he delayed 1
H309-09 וַ/יּ֕וֹחֶר vayocher HC/Vhw3ms and tarried and he delayed and he delayed 1
H309-03 לַֽ/מְאַחֲרִ֥ים lameacharim HRd/Vprmpa those who linger long the ones who delay the ones who linger 1
H309-06 תְּאַחֲר֣וּ teacharu HVpj2mp delay may you delay delay 1
H309-08 וָ/אֵחַ֖ר vaechar HC/Vqw1cs and I have stayed and I lingered behind and I lingered behind 1
H309-02 אֶֽחֱר֔וּ echeru HVpp3cp tarry they delayed they delayed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H309-06 Genesis 24:56 תְּאַחֲר֣וּ teacharu HVpj2mp delay may you delay delay
H309-08 Genesis 32:5 וָ/אֵחַ֖ר vaechar HC/Vqw1cs and I have stayed and I lingered behind and I lingered behind
H309-01 Genesis 34:19 אֵחַ֤ר echar HVpp3ms deferred he delayed he delayed
H309-07 Exodus 22:28 תְאַחֵ֑ר teacher HVpi2ms shall you delay you delay you delay
H309-10 Deuteronomy 7:10 יְאַחֵר֙ yeacher HVpi3ms He will delay he will delay it will delay
H309-07 Deuteronomy 23:22 תְאַחֵ֖ר teacher HVpi2ms you-delay you delay you delay
H309-02 Judges 5:28 אֶֽחֱר֔וּ echeru HVpp3cp tarry they delayed they delayed
H309-09 2 Samuel 20:5 וַ/יּ֕וֹחֶר vayocher HC/Vhw3ms and tarried and he delayed and he delayed
H309-04 Isaiah 5:11 מְאַחֲרֵ֣י meacharey HVprmpc who tarry from behind who linger
H309-07 Isaiah 46:13 תְאַחֵ֑ר teacher HVpi3fs will delay you delay will delay
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