Lexical Summary achar: after, behind, following, later Original Word: אַחַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hereafter (Aramaic) corresponding to 'achar; after -- (here-)after. see HEBREW 'achar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to achar Definition after NASB Translation after (1), future (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אחר] plural with אַחֲרֵי, preposition after (Cappadocian and Egyptian Aramaic אחר afterwards (LzbEph.i. 361 S-Cpap C 8), probably Nabataean אחר after (Lzb212 SAC16); Egyptian Aramaic אחריכם (S-CPap. c 8+); ᵑ7 (sometimes) אֲחוֺרֵי; Biblical Hebrew אַחַר); — אַחֲרֵי דְנָה after this Daniel 2:29,45; with suffix אַחֲרֵיהֹן Daniel 7:24. Usu. Aramaic synonym בָּאתַר, q. v. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Narrative Function The Hebrew term evokes the idea of what lies beyond the present moment—subsequent events in a divinely ordered sequence. In Daniel it does not merely mark time; it frames revelation, drawing attention to the God-given certainty of what follows. By tying present circumstances to future outcomes, the word reinforces the prophetic rhythm of promise and fulfillment that runs through all of Scripture. Role in Daniel’s Court Narrative (Daniel 2:29) When Nebuchadnezzar ponders “what would happen hereafter” (Daniel 2:29), the term sets the stage for divine disclosure. The king’s restless musings find resolution only when God, through Daniel, unfolds the future. The narrative underscores that even the private thoughts of emperors are subject to God’s timetable. For teachers and preachers, the verse illustrates how the Lord speaks into human anxiety about the unknown, answering with revelation rather than speculation. Prophetic Continuity and Eschatology (Daniel 2:45) Daniel concludes the statue vision with the assurance that “the great God has shown the king what will come to pass after this” (Daniel 2:45). Here the term links the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms to the advent of a kingdom “not made by human hands.” The temporal marker therefore becomes a theological bridge: history moves inexorably toward the establishment of God’s everlasting reign. The passage supports a linear, purposeful view of history, countering cyclical or fatalistic philosophies. Succession of Kingdoms (Daniel 7:24) In the vision of the four beasts the word signals political succession: “After them another king… will arise” (Daniel 7:24). The vocabulary of sequence emphasizes both continuity and escalation—each kingdom follows logically yet introduces new dynamics. For interpreters, the text models how to read prophetic symbols in light of concrete historical progression without divorcing them from their ultimate eschatological horizon. Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty: Every occurrence affirms that the future unfolds under God’s governance, not human initiative. Applications for Teaching and Ministry • Pastoral Counseling: Encourage believers facing uncertainty by highlighting that God, who revealed “what would come hereafter” to Nebuchadnezzar, still directs individual futures. Summary In its three appearances, אַחַר functions as more than a preposition of time; it is a theological signpost pointing from human questions to divine answers, from transient empires to an unshakable kingdom, and from present obedience to assured future fulfillment. Forms and Transliterations אַחֲרֵ֣י אַחֲרֵיה֗וֹן אחרי אחריהון ’a·ḥă·rê ’a·ḥă·rê·hō·wn ’aḥărê ’aḥărêhōwn achaRei achareiHonLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:29 HEB: דִּ֥י לֶהֱוֵ֖א אַחֲרֵ֣י דְנָ֑ה וְגָלֵ֧א NAS: place in the future; and He who reveals INT: would take the future time reveals Daniel 2:45 Daniel 7:24 3 Occurrences |
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