Lexical Summary athid or athud: He-goat, prepared, ready Original Word: עָתִיד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance things that shall come, ready, treasures From athad; prepared; by implication, skilful; feminine plural the future; also treasure -- things that shall come, ready, treasures. see HEBREW athad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom athod Definition ready, prepared NASB Translation impending things (1), prepared (1), ready (3), treasures (1). Topical Lexicon Summary of UsageThe term עָתִיד appears five times in the Hebrew canon and consistently signals something poised to occur—whether judgment, violence, deliverance, or boasting power. The contexts span Torah, Wisdom, Historical, and Prophetic literature, enabling a panoramic view of divine sovereignty over events that appear imminent from the human vantage point. Deuteronomy 32:35 – Imminent Divine Reckoning “Mischief is at hand, and their doom hastens upon them” (Deuteronomy 32:35). Moses’ song presents Israel’s enemies as balanced on the brink of certain retribution. The passage speaks past its original audience to every age in which God’s people witness wickedness seemingly unchecked. The word underscores that divine justice is never a remote abstraction; it is already prepared, waiting only for God’s perfect timing. Paul cites the verse in Romans 12:19, urging believers to relinquish vengeance to the One who is forever ready to repay. Esther 3:14 – Readiness in the Face of Genocide The royal edict “was published to all the peoples, so that they would be ready for that day” (Esther 3:14). Haman counts on the Persian population’s readiness to execute his murderous scheme. Yet the same “readiness” becomes the stage upon which God reverses the plot through Esther’s intercession. The term therefore measures more than human preparedness; it frames the invisible providence that has already arranged a deliverer. Mordecai’s assertion that “relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place” (Esther 4:14) witnesses to the larger reality that rescue, too, can be עָתִיד. Job 3:8 – Cosmic Powers on Standby “Those prepared to rouse Leviathan” (Job 3:8) depicts professional cursers who supposedly could summon chaotic forces. Job’s lament imagines even cosmic monsters waiting to be unleashed against the day of his birth. The vocabulary hints at an unseen realm where malevolent power stands ready, yet under divine restraint (Job 41). The verse urges readers to recognize the limits of human speech and ritual when confronting suffering and mystery. Job 15:24 – Approaching Calamity “Distress and anguish terrify him, overpowering him like a king poised for attack” (Job 15:24). Eliphaz wrongly projects the wicked man’s destiny onto Job, but his simile illustrates the psychological dimension of עָתִיד. Fear becomes tyrannical precisely because it feels inevitable. For pastoral ministry the verse warns against misapplying theological formulas to innocent sufferers, while acknowledging that the dread of looming calamity can be more crushing than calamity itself. Isaiah 10:13 – Assyrian Hubris “Like a mighty one I have subdued their rulers” (Isaiah 10:13). Assyria boasts that its strength is already victorious; it imagines itself as the ready conqueror of nations. The prophet counters by announcing that Assyria itself is only an instrument in the hand of the Lord, who is “about to punish the glory of his arrogant heart” (Isaiah 10:12). What the empire calls its settled future is, in fact, dependent on God’s larger plan of discipline and restoration for Israel. Theological Reflections 1. Imminence and Sovereignty: Whether salvation or judgment, the events called עָתִיד emphasize God’s timing. What appears future to humanity is present to the Lord who “declares the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10). Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: Use Deuteronomy 32:35 alongside Romans 12:19 to anchor sermons on justice, emphasizing that God’s settled intention frees believers from personal vengeance. Key Insight for Believers Today What feels “about to happen” is never beyond the governance of the God who is eternally ready. Recognizing His sovereignty transforms fear into faith, vengeance into trust, and human arrogance into humble service. Forms and Transliterations הָ֝עֲתִידִ֗ים העתידים וַעֲתוּדֹֽותֵיהֶם֙ ועתודותיהם עֲתִדִ֖ים עֲתִדֹ֥ת עָתִ֬יד עתדים עתדת עתיד ‘ă·ṯi·ḏîm ‘ă·ṯi·ḏōṯ ‘ā·ṯîḏ ‘āṯîḏ ‘ăṯiḏîm ‘ăṯiḏōṯ aTid atiDim atiDot hā‘ăṯîḏîm hā·‘ă·ṯî·ḏîm haatiDim vaatudoteiHem wa‘ăṯūḏōwṯêhem wa·‘ă·ṯū·ḏō·w·ṯê·hemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 32:35 HEB: אֵידָ֔ם וְחָ֖שׁ עֲתִדֹ֥ת לָֽמוֹ׃ NAS: is near, And the impending things are hastening KJV: [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. INT: of their calamity are hastening and the impending Esther 3:14 Job 3:8 Job 15:24 Isaiah 10:13 5 Occurrences |
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