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מָחָר

𐤌𐤇𐤓

mâchâr

H4279 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אחר to be behind, to delay, to be late, to come after

Definition

An adverb and occasionally substantive indicating 'the (next) day' or 'tomorrow,' and by extension, 'in the future' or 'hereafter.' In narrative and legal contexts, it refers specifically to the day following the current day or event. In broader or poetic usage, it can be used more generally for an indefinite future time.

Semantic Range

the next day, tomorrow (literal calendrical sense); the following day; in the future, hereafter (indefinite or poetic usage)

Root / Etymology

From the root אחר (ʼ-ḥ-r), meaning 'to be behind, to delay, be late.' מָחָר is a time-related derivative from this root, shifting from the notion of 'being behind' or 'after' to designate the day after the present, i.e., 'tomorrow.' The process involves semantic development from spatial/temporal delay to a discrete future unit of time.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מָחָר is found in legal, narrative, and prophetic texts. Its most frequent sense is the straightforward calendrical 'the next day' (e.g., Exod 9:6, Josh 5:11), marking a point in sequential time. In poetry and prophecy, it can stretch to mean 'hereafter' or a vague 'in time to come,' though this usage is less common. English 'tomorrow' is functionally the main equivalent for most cases. However, מָחָר does not carry the idea of a set eschatological future as some later English 'hereafter' or 'future' might; it is generally more immediate or context-dependent. There is some overlap with other terms for future time (such as אחרית 'latter end'), but מָחָר retains its concrete sense of the next succeeding day or, idiomatically, a near-term future. It is never used with reference to religious or ethnic identity, and its temporal meaning does not shift substantially across earlier vs. later strata of biblical Hebrew. In post-biblical Hebrew (e.g., Mishnah), usage continues, solidifying the 'tomorrow' sense, which persists in Modern Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from אָחַר; properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter; time to come, tomorrow.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אחר (ʾ-ḥ-r) — to be behind, to delay, to come after

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H268 אָחוֹר rear
H309 אָחַר he delayed
H310 אַחַר after, behind
H311 אַחַר behind / after
H312 אַחֵר another (masculine)

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4279-02 מָחָ֔ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day 41
H4279-03 וּ/מָחָ֑ר umachar HC/Ncmsa and tomorrow and the after-day 6
H4279-01 לְ/מָחָ֑ר lemachar HR/Ncmsa for tomorrow for tomorrow 5

Occurrences in Scripture

52 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4279-02 Genesis 30:33 מָחָ֔ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-01 Exodus 8:6 לְ/מָחָ֑ר lemachar HR/Ncmsa Tomorrow for tomorrow
H4279-01 Exodus 8:19 לְ/מָחָ֥ר lemachar HR/Ncmsa Tomorrow for tomorrow
H4279-02 Exodus 8:25 מָחָ֑ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 9:5 מָחָ֗ר machar HNcmsa Tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 9:18 מָחָ֔ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 10:4 מָחָ֛ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 13:14 מָחָ֖ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 16:23 מָחָ֑ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
H4279-02 Exodus 17:9 מָחָ֗ר machar HNcmsa tomorrow the after-day
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