Lexical Summary Akar: Achar Original Word: עָכָר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Achar From akar; troublesome; Akar, an Israelite -- Achar. Compare Akan. see HEBREW akar see HEBREW Akan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom akar Definition a man of Judah, perhaps the same as NH5912 NASB Translation Achar (1). Topical Lexicon Identity and Genealogical Setting Achar (also called Achan in Joshua) appears once under the form עָכָר in the ancestral record of Judah: “The son of Carmi was Achar, the troubler of Israel, who was unfaithful regarding the devoted things” (1 Chronicles 2:7). The Chronicler preserves the line of Judah through Zerah, reminding readers that this notorious individual stood within the very tribe entrusted with royal leadership. The Jericho Transgression Joshua 7 recounts the sin that earned him the epithet “troubler of Israel.” After Jericho fell, all spoil was placed under the ḥērem, the irrevocable ban devoted to the LORD (Joshua 6:17-19). Achan covertly seized “a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels” (Joshua 7:21). Though a single act, the covenant community suffered corporate consequences: Israel’s army was routed at Ai, and “the hearts of the people melted and became like water” (Joshua 7:5). Exposure and Judgment Through sacred lots the LORD isolated tribe, clan, household, and individual until Achan stood exposed. Confronted by Joshua, he confessed. His possessions, his family, and the contraband were taken to the Valley of Achor where “all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the others, they burned them in the fire” (Joshua 7:25). A great heap of stones became a permanent reminder that hidden sin brings public disaster. Covenant Theology and Communal Solidarity Achar’s account illustrates the biblical principle that Israel’s life was corporate. One man’s breach defiled the camp (Joshua 7:11-12). The narrative warns later generations that holiness cannot be compartmentalized; indifference toward God’s commands invites national judgment (compare Deuteronomy 23:14). Recurring Motif: ‘Troubler of Israel’ The phrase resurfaces when Elijah confronts Ahab: “I have not troubled Israel, Elijah replied, but you and your father’s house have” (1 Kings 18:18). The Chronicler’s choice of the form Achar (עָכָר) highlights the play on words—naming him after the act of troubling—and invites the reader to recall every occasion when disobedience imperiled the nation. Hope Beyond Judgment Prophets transform the Valley of Achor from a symbol of disaster into a doorway of hope. “I will give her the Valley of Achor as a door of hope” (Hosea 2:15). Isaiah envisions a time when “Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds” (Isaiah 65:10). The place of condemnation becomes a pledge of restoration, testifying that judgment, though severe, is never God’s final word. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Hidden sin, even by one member, can impede the mission of the entire congregation (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). Thus, Achar’s brief appearance in the genealogies reminds every generation that fidelity to the LORD is vital, that sin’s consequences reach far beyond the individual, and that God’s redemptive purposes can transform even valleys of trouble into pathways of hope. Forms and Transliterations עָכָר֙ עכר ‘ā·ḵār ‘āḵār aCharLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 2:7 HEB: וּבְנֵ֖י כַּרְמִ֑י עָכָר֙ עוֹכֵ֣ר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל NAS: of Carmi [was] Achar, the troubler KJV: of Carmi; Achar, the troubler INT: the son of Carmi Achar the troubler of Israel |
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