315. Acharach
Lexical Summary
Acharach: Afterward, later, behind

Original Word: אַחְרַח
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Achrach
Pronunciation: a-kha-RAKH
Phonetic Spelling: (akh-rakh')
KJV: Aharah
NASB: Aharah
Word Origin: [from H310 (אַחַר - after) and H251 (אָח - brother)]

1. after (his) brother

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Aharah

From 'achar and 'ach; after (his) brother: Achrach, an Israelite -- Aharah.

see HEBREW 'achar

see HEBREW 'ach

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from achar
Definition
a son of Benjamin
NASB Translation
Aharah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אַחֲרַח proper name, masculine a son of Benjamin 1 Chronicles 8:1 (perhaps corruption of אֲחִירָם Numbers 26:38, compare also אֵחִי).

Topical Lexicon
Name and Meaning

The personal name אַחְרַח (Aharah) likely carries the sense of “another brother” or “brother that comes after,” drawing on the common Hebrew idea of sequence or succession. Though appearing only once, the name serves as a narrative marker, preserving the integrity of Benjamin’s line.

Biblical Occurrence (1 Chronicles 8:1)

“Now Benjamin had sons: Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third,” (Berean Standard Bible).

Genealogical Context in the Tribe of Benjamin

1 Chronicles 7–8 rearranges earlier patriarchal lists to display Benjamin’s descendants who returned from exile. Aharah is presented as the third-born, anchoring the revised list.
• The parallel census in Numbers 26:38–39 records “Ahiram,” an apparent variant form. Conservative scholarship sees in these variants complementary perspectives rather than contradiction; ancient Hebrew often preserved alternate spellings or clan titles.
• Through Bela (firstborn) descends the royal line of Saul (1 Samuel 9:1–2); through Ashbel comes the house of the mighty men of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:39–40). Aharah’s inclusion ensures that every major Benjaminite branch is represented, underlining the completeness of God’s covenant faithfulness to Jacob’s youngest son.

Historical Significance

1. Post-exilic identity. Chronicler-era Jews needed assurance that every ancestral house, even one mentioned only once, still stood beneath the promises of the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants.
2. Tribal balance. Aharah’s single mention maintains the triadic rhythm (“first … second … third”) that structures several Old-Testament genealogies (cf. Shem-Ham-Japheth; Cain-Abel-Seth), reflecting literary symmetry and divine order.
3. Preservation of smaller clans. The Chronicler deliberately records lesser-known figures to demonstrate that no segment of God’s people is forgotten (compare Nehemiah 7:5). Aharah testifies to the individual worth of each clan amid the larger redemptive story.

Ministry Implications and Lessons

• God remembers names history scarcely records (cf. Malachi 3:16). Aharah encourages believers engaged in seemingly obscure service that the Lord inscribes every act of faithfulness.
• Unity through diversity. While Saul and later the Apostle Paul emerge from Benjamin, Scripture also highlights anonymous Benjamites, affirming that prominence is not prerequisite for usefulness in God’s plan (1 Corinthians 12:22).
• Intergenerational continuity. The Chronicler’s attention to ancestral lines invites churches to preserve spiritual heritage, discipling coming generations so that, like Aharah, they stand numbered among God’s people.

Connections to Redemption History

From Benjamin’s line came Israel’s first king, whose reign ultimately pointed forward to the true King, Jesus Christ, a Judahite. The inclusion of every Benjaminite clan, Aharah included, foreshadows the inclusion of every tribe, tongue, and nation in the new covenant (Revelation 7:9). A single, seemingly minor name thus contributes to the tapestry that prepares the way for the Messiah and the universal gospel.

Key Takeaway

Aharah’s solitary appearance reminds readers that in the kingdom of God no individual or family is insignificant. The meticulous record-keeping of Scripture assures believers that the Lord who counts the stars also counts each of His children, calling them by name and weaving them into His unbroken account of redemption.

Forms and Transliterations
וְאַחְרַ֖ח ואחרח veachRach wə’aḥraḥ wə·’aḥ·raḥ
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Chronicles 8:1
HEB: אַשְׁבֵּל֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וְאַחְרַ֖ח הַשְּׁלִישִֽׁי׃
NAS: Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,
KJV: the second, and Aharah the third,
INT: Ashbel the second Aharah the third

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 315
1 Occurrence


wə·’aḥ·raḥ — 1 Occ.

314
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