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אַחַר (a.char)

a.char

after; backwards

H0310 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 607 verses

H:A

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
607 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:A

Word Overview

The Hebrew word aḥar primarily denotes position or sequence, meaning "behind" in space or "after" in time. With over six hundred occurrences in Scripture, it serves as a fundamental marker for order and direction. It appears frequently in Genesis to describe events following one another, establishing the chronological flow of the narrative.

While often translated simply as "after," the word carries a spatial sense of being at the back or hind part. This physical meaning extends to temporal sequence, indicating what follows an event. In rare instances, such as Proverbs 28:23, it describes someone who turns backwards, highlighting its core idea of facing away from the front.

Translators render aḥar in various ways depending on context, including "behind," "afterward," or "following." Its versatility allows it to function as an adverb, preposition, conjunction, or substantive. This range enables precise descriptions of both physical location and historical succession throughout the Old Testament.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word aḥar marks what comes next in time or space. It appears hundreds of times in the Old Testament, often linking one generation to the next. This simple term reminds us that history moves forward under God’s care. Each event follows another, building toward His purposes.

When you read about ancestors living long lives after having children, aḥar shows the steady flow of time. It is not random chance but a sequence held by God. Your own life has moments that follow others, and this word invites trust in that order. Even when the path ahead seems unclear, God remains present in what comes next.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 607 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • after268×
  • and/ after75×
  • after/ him60×
  • after/ them42×
  • after/ you28×
  • from/ after24×
  • behind19×
  • after/ me18×
  • behind/ you10×
  • from/ after/ him9×
  • and/ after/ him8×
  • behind/ him7×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • אַחֲרֵ֣י59×
  • אַחֲרֵ֥י34×
  • אַחֲרֵ֖י31×
  • אַחֲרֵי֙17×
  • אַֽחֲרֵי֙14×
  • אַחֲרָֽי/ו\׃14×
  • וְ/אַחֲרֵי\־13×
  • אַחַ֣ר13×
  • אַחֲרֵי\־13×
  • אַחֲרֵ֤י13×
  • אַחֲרָ֖י/ו12×
  • וְ/אַחַ֖ר11×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 5:22
    After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

    This verse uses aḥar to mark the start of Enoch’s unique walk with God after Methuselah’s birth, highlighting a pivotal spiritual shift in the lineage.

  • Genesis 9:9
    “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,

    Here aḥar establishes the covenant as extending to future generations, showing God’s promise continues beyond the immediate moment.

  • Genesis 13:14
    Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward,

    The word signals a turning point for Abram after Lot departs, leading directly to God’s renewed promise and vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does aḥar mean in the Old Testament?

Aḥar primarily means 'after' in time or 'behind' in space. It is used to describe chronological order, such as one generation following another, or physical position relative to something else.

How is aḥar different from other words for 'after'?

While other Hebrew words might mean 'later' or 'subsequently', aḥar carries a strong sense of sequence and position. It often implies what comes directly behind an event in the narrative flow.

Where does this word appear most frequently?

It appears over six hundred times, especially in Genesis where it tracks genealogies and the timeline of events from creation through the patriarchs.

Every Occurrence (607 verses across 30 books)

Genesis 80 verses
Genesis 5:4

The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he became the father of other sons…

Genesis 5:7

Seth lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 5:10

Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 5:13

Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalalel eight hundred forty years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 5:16

Mahalalel lived after he became the father of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 5:19

Jared lived after he became the father of Enoch eight hundred years, and became the father of other sons and daughters.

Genesis 5:22

After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch walked with God for three hundred years, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 5:26

Methuselah lived after he became the father of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of other…

Genesis 5:30

Lamech lived after he became the father of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of other sons and…

Genesis 6:4

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had…

Genesis 9:9

“As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,

Genesis 9:28

Noah lived three hundred fifty years after the flood.

Genesis 10:1

Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them…

Genesis 10:18

the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.

Genesis 10:32

These are the families of the sons of Noah, by their generations, according to their nations. The nations divided from…

Genesis 11:10

This is the history of the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad…

Genesis 11:11

Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 11:13

Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 11:15

Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 11:17

Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 11:19

Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:21

Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:23

Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:25

Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and…

Genesis 13:14

Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are,…

Genesis 14:17

The king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with…

Genesis 15:1

After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your…

Genesis 15:14

I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth;

Genesis 16:13

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after…

Genesis 17:7

I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an…

Genesis 17:8

I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an…

Genesis 17:9

God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their…

Genesis 17:10

This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you. Every male among you shall…

Genesis 17:19

God said, “No, but Sarah, your wife, will bear you a son. You shall call his name Isaac. I will establish my covenant…

Genesis 18:5

I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to…

Genesis 18:10

He said, “I will certainly return to you at about this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.”…

Genesis 18:12

Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old will I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

Genesis 18:19

For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the…

Genesis 19:6

Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself.

Genesis 19:17

It came to pass, when they had taken them out, that he said, “Escape for your life! Don’t look behind you, and don’t…

Genesis 19:26

But Lot’s wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

Genesis 22:1

After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.”

Genesis 22:13

Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and saw that behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. Abraham…

Genesis 22:20

After these things, Abraham was told, “Behold, Milcah, she also has borne children to your brother Nahor:

Genesis 23:19

After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (that is, Hebron), in the…

Genesis 24:5

The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the…

Genesis 24:8

If the woman isn’t willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this oath to me. Only you shall not bring my son…

Genesis 24:36

Sarah, my master’s wife, bore a son to my master when she was old. He has given all that he has to him.

Genesis 24:39

I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not follow me?’

Genesis 24:55

Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go.”

Genesis 24:61

Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his…

Genesis 24:67

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. So Isaac was…

Genesis 25:11

After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac, his son. Isaac lived by Beer Lahai Roi.

Genesis 25:26

After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old…

Genesis 26:18

Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had…

Genesis 30:21

Afterwards, she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.

Genesis 31:23

He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.

Genesis 31:36

Jacob was angry, and argued with Laban. Jacob answered Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have hotly…

Genesis 33:7

Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed…

Genesis 35:5

They traveled, and a terror of God was on the cities that were around them, and they didn’t pursue the sons of Jacob.

Genesis 35:12

The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give it to you, and to your offspring after you I will give the…

Genesis 37:17

The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” Joseph went after his brothers, and…

Genesis 38:30

Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Genesis 39:7

After these things, his master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”

Genesis 40:1

After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

Genesis 41:3

Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the…

Genesis 41:6

Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

Genesis 41:19

and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of…

Genesis 41:23

and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.

Genesis 41:27

The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…

Genesis 41:30

Seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will…

Genesis 41:31

and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.

Genesis 41:39

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you.

Genesis 44:4

When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men.…

Genesis 45:15

He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Genesis 46:30

Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.”

Genesis 48:1

After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and…

Genesis 48:4

and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and…

Genesis 48:6

Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their…

Genesis 50:14

Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried…

Exodus 25 verses
Leviticus 22 verses
Numbers 25 verses
Deuteronomy 26 verses
Joshua 36 verses
Judges 40 verses
Ruth 9 verses
I Samuel 40 verses
II Samuel 53 verses
I Kings 46 verses
II Kings 29 verses
I Chronicles 14 verses
II Chronicles 27 verses
Ezra 4 verses
Nehemiah 19 verses
Esther 2 verses
Job 14 verses
Psalms 4 verses
Proverbs 6 verses
Ecclesiastes 8 verses
Song of Solomon 2 verses
Isaiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 49 verses
Daniel 2 verses
Hosea 5 verses
Joel 3 verses
Amos 3 verses
Zephaniah 1 verse
Zechariah 3 verses