אָחוֹר (a.chor)
a.chor
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H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word achor refers to the back side or rear of something, serving as the spatial opposite of the front. In the Old Testament it appears in about thirty-two verses, with notable usage in Psalms and Isaiah. This term captures physical positioning, such as the back parts of the tabernacle curtains described in Exodus 26:12 or the hindquarters of sacrificial animals mentioned in 1 Kings 7:25.
Beyond literal location, achor extends into temporal and directional concepts. It can indicate backward movement, as seen when enemies turn back in flight (Psalm 35:4), or point toward the west, the direction behind one facing east. The word also carries a sense of future time, appearing in phrases like "for the time to come" in Isaiah 42:23, linking physical rear with what follows.
A striking example of its usage occurs in Psalm 139:5, where David declares that God knows him when he lies down and rises up, distinguishing between his front and back. This highlights how the term functions not just as a geometric marker but as a way to describe complete human orientation before God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word achor simply means 'back' or 'behind,' yet it carries a profound weight in Scripture. It describes physical space, like the rear of the tabernacle or the direction enemies flee, but it also speaks to our relationship with God. In Psalm 139:5, David writes that God hemmed him in behind and before. This is not about being trapped, but about being fully known. There is no hidden corner of your life where you are unseen or unknown to Him.
When we feel surrounded by trouble, as Joab did in II Samuel 10:9, the word reminds us that God’s presence is not limited to what lies ahead. He is present in what has passed and what follows. This assurance brings peace. You do not need to face the future alone or fear the past. The same God who knows your back also holds your front.
This understanding invites you to rest in His complete awareness of your life. Whether you are looking forward with hope or reflecting on yesterday, you are held. Let this knowledge quiet your anxiety and ground your faith in the reality that no part of your journey is outside His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- backwards12×
- backward4×
- to/ backwards2×
- to/ afterwards2×
- hindquarters/ their2×
- back part2×
- in/ backwards1×
- back parts/ my1×
- and/ from/ behind1×
- and/ behind1×
- and/ backwards1×
- and/ back1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/אָחֽוֹר\׃3×
- אָחוֹר֙3×
- אָחֽוֹר\׃3×
- אָח֣וֹר3×
- אָח֑וֹר3×
- אָח֖וֹר2×
- לְ/אָח֖וֹר1×
- לְ/אָח֔וֹר1×
- וּ/מֵֽ/אָח֑וֹר1×
- וְ֝/אָח֗וֹר1×
- וְ/אָח֔וֹר1×
- וְ/אָח֑וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 139:5
You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.
David uses 'behind' to describe God's intimate knowledge of his whole being, showing that nothing is hidden from divine sight.
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Exodus 33:23
then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Moses sees God's back after the glory passes, indicating a limited but real encounter with the divine presence that preserves human life.
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II Samuel 10:9
Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel and put them in array against the Syrians.
Joab faces battle before and behind, illustrating how 'achor' describes being surrounded on all sides in times of crisis.
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Isaiah 50:5
The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.
The servant declares he did not turn back, using the word to signify stubborn obedience rather than physical movement.