← H313 H315 →

אַחֲרוֹן

𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤅𐤍

ʼachărôwn

H314 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

אַחֲרוֹן refers to that which is behind, at the back, coming later in sequence, or occurring last in order or time. It may denote the latter part or end of a series; someone or something occurring or appearing after others; or, in a directional context, the western side, since ancient Israelites oriented themselves facing east. The primary sense is 'coming after,' with extensions to mean 'last,' 'latter,' 'western,' or 'hindmost.'

Semantic Range

last in order, at the back/rear, later/latter, one who comes after, west/western (geographical term), hindmost, uttermost, following, rear guard

Root / Etymology

From the root אָחַר (אחר), meaning 'to be behind, to delay, to be late.' אַחֲרוֹן is a derived adjectival/noun form indicating the state or quality of being subsequent or at the rear. Root yields a range of derivatives meaning 'after,' 'behind,' 'delay,' etc.; in this noun/adjective form, the word focuses on position in space, time, or order.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite texts, אַחֲרוֹן often appears in spatial or temporal sequences, such as listings of generations, events, persons, or military formations (e.g., the 'rear guard'). The term is relational and context-dependent; what is 'last' or 'behind' shifts depending on point of reference. In descriptions of orientation or territory, 'אַחֲרוֹן' can describe the west, as Israelites faced eastward, making the western portion the 'back.' In monarchic and later periods, it regularly denotes the latter in contrast with רִאשׁוֹן ('first' or 'former'). English translations like 'last,' 'latter,' and 'western' variously capture the sense but sometimes flatten spatial, temporal, or directional nuance. Unlike קָדִים, which designates the east, אַחֲרוֹן is not strictly directional but contextually defined. The term's meaning is stable across Hebrew Scripture, but its association with cardinal directions is clearer in geographic or cultic passages from the monarchic and exilic periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "last" 41 occurrences

'Last' best fits the primary sense of אַחֲרוֹן (coming after, final, latter) and is the most common natural English rendering in the P2 data. It covers 'last/latter/late/hindmost' uses while remaining concise and idiomatic; less common geographical senses (western) can be handled by context or modifiers while preserving a single consistent base word.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"latter one" (2x) "later" (2x) "rear" (1x) "following" (1x) "later one" (1x) "later ones" (1x) "latter" (1x) "latter ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) אַחֲרֹן; from אָחַר; hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western; after (-ward), to come, following, hind(-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter) most.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

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

Root אחר to be behind, to follow after, be delayed
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

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H314-04 הָ/אַחֲרֽוֹן haacharon HTd/Aamsa the last the one after the last 12
H314-01 אַחֲר֔וֹן acharon HAamsa last aftermost last 8
H314-10 וְ/הָ/אֲחֲרוֹנִ֑ים vehaacharonim HC/Td/Aampa and the last and the ones coming after and the last ones 8
H314-02 אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים acharonim HAampa last hindmost ones last ones 7
H314-03 בָּ/אַחֲרֹנָֽה baacharonah HRd/Aafsa last in the latter (feminine) in the last (feminine) 6
H314-05 הָ/אַֽחֲרֹנִ֑ים haacharonim HTd/Aampa the last the ones who come after the ones who last 3
H314-06 לָ/אַחֲרֹנָ֥ה laacharonah HRd/Aafsa last to the latter one to the latter one 2
H314-09 וְ/הָ/אַחֲר֖וֹן vehaacharon HC/Td/Aamsa and-the-last and the last one and the last one 1
H314-12 וְ/כָ/אַחֲרֹנָֽה vekhaacharonah HC/Rd/Aafsa or as the latter and as the later one and as at the latter 1
H314-11 וְ/הָ/אֲחרֹנִ֑ים vehaachronim HC/Td/Aampa and last and the latter ones and the latter ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

51 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H314-02 Genesis 33:2 אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים acharonim HAampa after hindmost ones last ones
H314-02 Genesis 33:2 אַחֲרֹנִֽים acharonim-2 HAampa last hindmost ones last ones
H314-04 Exodus 4:8 הָ/אַחֲרֽוֹן haacharon HTd/Aamsa the latter the one after the last
H314-06 Numbers 2:31 לָ/אַחֲרֹנָ֥ה laacharonah HRd/Aafsa last to the latter one to the latter one
H314-04 Deuteronomy 11:24 הָֽ/אַחֲר֔וֹן haacharon HTd/Aamsa the western the one after the last
H314-03 Deuteronomy 13:10 בָּ/אַחֲרֹנָֽה baacharonah HRd/Aafsa last in the latter (feminine) in the last (feminine)
H314-03 Deuteronomy 17:7 בָּ/אַחֲרֹנָ֑ה baacharonah HRd/Aafsa afterward in the latter (feminine) in the last (feminine)
H314-04 Deuteronomy 24:3 הָ/אַחֲרוֹן֒ haacharon HTd/Aamsa the-latter the one after the last
H314-04 Deuteronomy 24:3 הָ/אַחֲר֔וֹן haacharon-2 HTd/Aamsa the-latter the one after the last
H314-04 Deuteronomy 29:21 הָֽ/אַחֲר֗וֹן haacharon HTd/Aamsa the last the one after the last
← H313 Hebrew Lexicon H315 →