309. achar

Lexicon

achar: after, behind, following, later

Original Word: אָחַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: achar
Pronunciation: ah-khar'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-khar')
Definition: after, behind, following, later
Meaning: to loiter, to procrastinate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

continue, defer, delay, hinder, be late slack, stay there, tarry longer

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

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to remain behind, tarry
NASB Translation
delay (11), delayed (1), late (2), linger (1), stay up late (1), stayed (1), tarry (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אָחַר verb to remain behind, delay, tarry (Arabic to put off, also to remain behind; Aramaic Pa`el אֵחַר, Aph`el , Shaph`el , Sabean אחֿר Osiander^{ZMG 1865, 197}; אחֿחֿר DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 34}).

Qal once only Genesis 32:5 וָאֵחַר (contracted from וָאֶאֱחַר compare אֵהָ֑ב Proverbs 8:17) and I have tarried until now.

Pi`el Perfect אֵחַר Genesis 34:19; אֶחֱרוּ Judges 5:28; Imperfect יְאַחֵר, תְּאַחֵר (3 t. תְּאַחַ֑ר) etc. Genesis 24:56 9t.; Participle (רֵֿי) מְאַהֲרִים3t.

1 intensive, delay, tarry, absolute Judges 5:28 ("" בּשֵׁשׁ לָבוֺא) Isaiah 46:13 and my salvation לֹא תְאַחֵר Habakkuk 2:3; Psalm 40:18 = Psalm 70:6; Daniel 9:19; with ל & infinitive Genesis 34:19. — Proverbs 23:30 מְאַחֲרִים עַלהַֿיָּיִ֑ן those tarrying over the wine, Isaiah 5:11 מְאַחֲרֵי בַנֶּשֶׁף, Psalm 127:2 מְאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת ("" מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם).

2 causative of Qal, cause one to delay, hinder Genesis 24:56; keep back (= bring late) Exodus 22:28; with ל & infinitive delay to . . . Deuteronomy 23:22 quoted Ecclesiastes 5:3: elliptical Deuteronomy 7:10 he delayeth (it, the recompense) not to his enemy. — 2 Samuel 20:5 Qr וַיּ֫וֺחֶר is taken by Ol^{§ 241 c as Qal} (compare וַתֹּ֫חֶז 2 Samuel 20:9 from אָחַז), by Sta^{§ 498 c} Kö^{1. 397} Ges^{§ 68}2Rem as Hiph`il (literally shewed, exhibited delay): on the Kt (?וַיֵּיחַר) see Dr^Sm.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G190: ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō) • to follow
• G1019: βραδύνω (bradynō) • to delay
• G1872: ἐμμένω (emménō) • to remain, to persist
• G1975: ἐπισκέπτομαι (episkeptomai) • to visit, to look after
• G2078: ἔσχατος (eschatos) • last
• G2192: ἔχω (echō) • to have, to hold
• G2641: καταλείπω (kataleipō) • to leave behind
• G2722: κατέχω (katechō) • to hold fast, to retain
• G3000: λατρεύω (latreuō) • to serve, to worship
• G3306: μένω (menō) • to remain, to abide
• G3326: μετά (meta) • with, after
• G3694: ὀπίσω (opisō) • behind, after
• G5549: χρονίζω (chronizō) • to delay, to tarry

These Greek entries provide a broader understanding of the concept of delay and lingering as it is expressed in the New Testament, offering a linguistic and thematic connection to the Hebrew term אָחַר (achar).

Usage: The verb אָחַר (achar) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of delaying or lingering, often with a negative connotation of procrastination or hesitation. It can imply a failure to act promptly or decisively.

Context: The Hebrew verb אָחַר (achar) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, often highlighting a reluctance or failure to act in a timely manner. This term is used to describe situations where individuals or groups delay action, sometimes leading to negative consequences. The concept of delaying or lingering is frequently associated with a lack of urgency or a failure to prioritize appropriately.

In Genesis 19:16, the term is used to describe Lot's hesitation as he lingered in Sodom, necessitating the intervention of angels to hasten his departure: "But when he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters, and led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them."

In Exodus 12:39, the Israelites' departure from Egypt is described with a sense of urgency, contrasting with the idea of lingering: "They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was without yeast; because they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay, and they had not prepared any provisions for themselves."

The theme of procrastination or delay is also evident in the narrative of Judges 5:28, where the mother of Sisera is depicted as waiting expectantly for her son's return, highlighting the tension and uncertainty associated with delay: "Through the window she looked out, Sisera’s mother peered through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why is the clatter of his chariots delayed?'"

The use of אָחַר (achar) serves as a reminder of the importance of timely action and the potential consequences of hesitation or procrastination in fulfilling one's duties or responding to divine instructions.

Forms and Transliterations

אֵחַ֤ר אֶֽחֱר֔וּ אחר אחרו וַיֹּ֕וחֶר וָאֵחַ֖ר ואחר ויוחר יְאַחֵֽר׃ יְאַחֵר֙ יאחר יאחר׃ לַֽמְאַחֲרִ֥ים למאחרים מְאַֽחֲרֵי־ מְאַחֲרֵ֣י מאחרי מאחרי־ תְּאַחֲר֣וּ תְּאַחֵר֙ תְּאַחַ֑ר תְּאַחַֽר׃ תְאַחֵ֑ר תְאַחֵ֖ר תאחר תאחר׃ תאחרו ’ê·ḥar ’e·ḥĕ·rū ’êḥar ’eḥĕrū eChar echeRu lam’aḥărîm lam·’a·ḥă·rîm lamachaRim mə’aḥărê mə’aḥărê- mə·’a·ḥă·rê mə·’a·ḥă·rê- meacharei tə’aḥar tə’aḥărū tə’aḥêr ṯə’aḥêr tə·’a·ḥă·rū tə·’a·ḥar tə·’a·ḥêr ṯə·’a·ḥêr teaChar teachaRu teaCher vaeChar vaiYocher wā’êḥar wā·’ê·ḥar way·yō·w·ḥer wayyōwḥer yə’aḥêr yə·’a·ḥêr yeaCher

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 24:56
HEB: אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַל־ תְּאַחֲר֣וּ אֹתִ֔י וַֽיהוָ֖ה
NAS: He said to them, Do not delay me, since the LORD
KJV: And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD
INT: about not delay the LORD has prospered

Genesis 32:4
HEB: לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי וָאֵחַ֖ר עַד־ עָֽתָּה׃
NAS: with Laban, and stayed until
KJV: with Laban, and stayed there until now:
INT: Laban have sojourned and stayed until now

Genesis 34:19
HEB: וְלֹֽא־ אֵחַ֤ר הַנַּ֙עַר֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת
NAS: The young man did not delay to do
KJV: And the young man deferred not to do
INT: did not delay the young to do

Exodus 22:29
HEB: וְדִמְעֲךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְאַחֵ֑ר בְּכ֥וֹר בָּנֶ֖יךָ
NAS: You shall not delay [the offering from] your harvest
KJV: Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits,
INT: and your vintage shall not delay the firstborn of your sons

Deuteronomy 7:10
HEB: לְהַאֲבִיד֑וֹ לֹ֤א יְאַחֵר֙ לְשֹׂ֣נְא֔וֹ אֶל־
NAS: to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates
KJV: to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth
INT: to destroy He will not delay hates to

Deuteronomy 23:21
HEB: אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לֹ֥א תְאַחֵ֖ר לְשַׁלְּמ֑וֹ כִּֽי־
NAS: your God, you shall not delay to pay
KJV: thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay
INT: your God shall not delay to pay When

Judges 5:28
HEB: לָב֔וֹא מַדּ֣וּעַ אֶֽחֱר֔וּ פַּעֲמֵ֖י מַרְכְּבוֹתָֽיו׃
NAS: does his chariot delay in coming?
KJV: in coming? why tarry the wheels
INT: coming Why delay the hoofbeats of his chariots

2 Samuel 20:5
HEB: [וַיִּיחֶר כ] (וַיֹּ֕וחֶר ק) מִן־
NAS: out [the men of] Judah, but he delayed longer than
KJV: [the men of] Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time
INT: to call Judah continue than the set

Psalm 40:17
HEB: אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אַל־ תְּאַחַֽר׃
NAS: and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.
KJV: and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
INT: my God not delay

Psalm 70:5
HEB: יְ֝הוָ֗ה אַל־ תְּאַחַֽר׃
NAS: O LORD, do not delay.
KJV: O LORD, make no tarrying.
INT: LORD not delay

Psalm 127:2
HEB: מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי ק֡וּם מְאַֽחֲרֵי־ שֶׁ֗בֶת אֹ֭כְלֵי
NAS: To retire late, To eat
KJV: to sit up late, to eat
INT: early to rise late to retire to eat

Proverbs 23:30
HEB: לַֽמְאַחֲרִ֥ים עַל־ הַיָּ֑יִן
NAS: Those who linger long over wine,
KJV: They that tarry long at the wine;
INT: linger over wine

Ecclesiastes 5:4
HEB: לֵֽאלֹהִ֗ים אַל־ תְּאַחֵר֙ לְשַׁלְּמ֔וֹ כִּ֛י
NAS: to God, do not be late in paying
KJV: unto God, defer not to pay
INT: to God not be late paying for

Isaiah 5:11
HEB: שֵׁכָ֣ר יִרְדֹּ֑פוּ מְאַחֲרֵ֣י בַנֶּ֔שֶׁף יַ֖יִן
NAS: strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening
KJV: strong drink; that continue until night,
INT: strong may pursue stay the evening wine

Isaiah 46:13
HEB: וּתְשׁוּעָתִ֖י לֹ֣א תְאַחֵ֑ר וְנָתַתִּ֤י בְצִיּוֹן֙
NAS: off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant
KJV: and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place
INT: and my salvation will not delay will grant Zion

Daniel 9:19
HEB: וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה אַל־ תְּאַחַ֑ר לְמַֽעֲנְךָ֣ אֱלֹהַ֔י
NAS: O my God, do not delay, because
KJV: and do; defer not,
INT: and take not delay sake my God

Habakkuk 2:3
HEB: יָבֹ֖א לֹ֥א יְאַחֵֽר׃
NAS: come, it will not delay.
KJV: come, it will not tarry.
INT: come it will not delay

17 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 309
17 Occurrences

’ê·ḥar — 1 Occ.
’e·ḥĕ·rū — 1 Occ.
lam·’a·ḥă·rîm — 1 Occ.
mə·’a·ḥă·rê- — 2 Occ.
tə·’a·ḥar — 3 Occ.
tə·’a·ḥă·rū — 1 Occ.
ṯə·’a·ḥêr — 4 Occ.
wā·’ê·ḥar — 1 Occ.
way·yō·w·ḥer — 1 Occ.
yə·’a·ḥêr — 2 Occ.