אָחוֹר (H268) — Hebrew Lexicon

אָחוֹר

𐤀𐤇𐤅𐤓

ʼâchôwr

H268 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

(Noun, Adverb) The part that is behind; the rear, the back side or region. By extension, in spatial expressions, 'behind' or 'backwards' in relation to a point of orientation. Also used to denote the western direction based on facing eastward. Temporally, refers to what comes after, later, or in the future. In certain idiomatic uses, expresses 'without' or 'lacking behind.'

Semantic Range

back, rear, backside, behind, backwards, after, hereafter, west (direction), later, in the future, without (idiomatic), to return (idiomatic)

Root / Etymology

From the root אחר (א־ח־ר), meaning 'to be behind, to come after, to defer.' The noun forms (אָחוֹר) stem from this root and pertain to the concept of being at the back or following after.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical Hebrew, אָחוֹר is primarily used in spatial contexts to describe the rear or backside of a person, object, or group, often indicating a position relative to something else (e.g., 'behind him'). It is also employed in temporal expressions to signify 'afterward' or in the future ('hereafter'). The use of אָחוֹר to designate the west is due to the ancient Israelite geospatial orientation: people facing east would have their backs (אָחוֹר) to the west. In idiomatic constructions (e.g., לֹא יָשׁוּב אָחוֹר 'he shall not return back'), it means 'to return' or 'to go back.' Occasionally, it is used in the sense of withholding or not possessing. This word should not be confused with אֲחוֹרֵי (achoréy), a preposition meaning 'behind,' though the forms are related. Over time, the spatial sense remained primary, but the temporal and directional meanings reflect broader conceptual metaphors in Hebrew thinking. Most English translations capture only the spatial or directional senses, sometimes losing the temporal or metaphorical nuances found in Hebrew usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "back" 35 occurrences

"Back" is the most natural, flexible English base that covers the primary noun and adverb senses of אָחוֹר (rear, backside, behind, backwards) and can also carry the temporal sense (after/later) in context. It functions smoothly as a noun and adverb/adjective, making it the best single, consistent choice for all forms under this Strong's number.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):

"behind" (2x) "future" (2x) "rear" (1x) "end" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) אָחֹר ; from אֲחִירַע; the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West; after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-) hind(-er part), time to come, without.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

Root אחר to be behind, to come after, to defer, to follow

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H309	אָחַר	he delayed
H310	אַחַר	after, behind
H311	אַחַר	behind / after
H312	אַחֵר	another (masculine)
H313	אַחֵר	another one
H314	אַחֲרוֹן	aftermost
H315	אַחְרַח	and After-a-Brother
H317	אׇחֳרִי	another
H318	אׇחֳרֵין	those who come after
H319	אַחֲרִית	after-end of
H320	אַחֲרִית	in end-of
H321	אׇחֳרָן	another one
H322	אֲחֹרַנִּית	rearward
H4279	מָחָר	for tomorrow

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H268-01`	אָחֽוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back	24
`H268-06`	לְ/אָח֔וֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	backward	to the rear	to the back	5
`H268-09`	וְ/אָח֑וֹר	veachor	`HC/Ncmsa`	and behind	and rear	and back	4
`H268-04`	אֲחֹֽרֵי/הֶ֖ם	achoreyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	behind-them	their backs	their backs	3
`H268-05`	בְּ/אָח֥וֹר	beachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	in the end	in the rear	in the end	1
`H268-02`	אֲחֹרָ֑/י	achoray	`HNcmpc/Sp1cs`	my back	my rear parts	my back	1
`H268-08`	וּ/מֵֽ/אָח֑וֹר	umeachor	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and from behind	and from behind	and from behind	1
`H268-03`	אֲחֹרֵ֥י	achorey	`HR`	the back	behind	behind	1
`H268-07`	מֵֽ/אָח֔וֹר	meachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	from behind	from the rear	from the rear	1

Occurrences in Scripture

41 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H268-01`	Genesis 49:17	אָחֽוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-03`	Exodus 26:12	אֲחֹרֵ֥י	achorey	`HR`	the back	behind	behind
`H268-02`	Exodus 33:23	אֲחֹרָ֑/י	achoray	`HNcmpc/Sp1cs`	my back	my rear parts	my back
`H268-01`	2 Samuel 1:22	אָח֑וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-08`	2 Samuel 10:9	וּ/מֵֽ/אָח֑וֹר	umeachor	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and from behind	and from behind	and from behind
`H268-04`	1 Kings 7:25	אֲחֹֽרֵי/הֶ֖ם	achoreyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	behind-them	their backs	their backs
`H268-01`	Isaiah 1:4	אָחֽוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-07`	Isaiah 9:11	מֵֽ/אָח֔וֹר	meachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	from behind	from the rear	from the rear
`H268-01`	Isaiah 28:13	אָחוֹר֙	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-06`	Isaiah 41:23	לְ/אָח֔וֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	hereafter	to the rear	for the future
`H268-01`	Isaiah 42:17	אָחוֹר֙	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-06`	Isaiah 42:23	לְ/אָחֽוֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	for the future	to the rear	for the future
`H268-01`	Isaiah 44:25	אָח֖וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Isaiah 50:5	אָח֖וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Isaiah 59:14	אָחוֹר֙	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-06`	Jeremiah 7:24	לְ/אָח֖וֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	backward	to the rear	to the back
`H268-01`	Jeremiah 15:6	אָח֣וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Jeremiah 38:22	אָחֽוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Jeremiah 46:5	אָחוֹר֒	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-09`	Ezekiel 2:10	וְ/אָח֑וֹר	veachor	`HC/Ncmsa`	and-back	and rear	and back
`H268-04`	Ezekiel 8:16	אֲחֹ֨רֵי/הֶ֜ם	achoreyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	backs of them	their backs	their backs
`H268-01`	Psalms 9:4	אָח֑וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 35:4	אָח֣וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 40:15	אָ֭חוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 44:11	אָ֭חוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 44:19	אָח֣וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 56:10	אָ֭חוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 70:3	אָ֭חוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 78:66	אָח֑וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-06`	Psalms 114:3	לְ/אָחֽוֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	backward	to the rear	to the back
`H268-06`	Psalms 114:5	לְ/אָחֽוֹר	leachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	backward	to the rear	to the back
`H268-01`	Psalms 129:5	אָח֑וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Psalms 139:5	אָח֣וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	behind	rear	back
`H268-05`	Proverbs 29:11	בְּ/אָח֥וֹר	beachor	`HR/Ncmsa`	in the end	in the rear	in the end
`H268-09`	Job 23:8	וְ֝/אָח֗וֹר	veachor	`HC/Ncmsa`	and backward	and rear	and back
`H268-01`	Lamentations 1:8	אָחֽוֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Lamentations 1:13	אָח֔וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-01`	Lamentations 2:3	אָח֛וֹר	achor	`HNcmsa`	backward	rear	back
`H268-09`	1 Chronicles 19:10	וְ/אָח֑וֹר	veachor	`HC/Ncmsa`	and behind	and rear	and back
`H268-04`	2 Chronicles 4:4	אֲחֹרֵי/הֶ֖ם	achoreyhem	`HNcmpc/Sp3mp`	behind-them	their backs	their backs
`H268-09`	2 Chronicles 13:14	וְ/אָח֔וֹר	veachor	`HC/Ncmsa`	and behind	and rear	and back

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