אַחֲרִית (a.cha.rit)
a.cha.rit
end
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 57 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun aḥărîyth, derived from the root for "behind" or "after," literally means the part that comes last. In Scripture it refers to the end of an event, the future time, or posterity. It appears 57 times, often in Proverbs and Jeremiah, describing what happens after a beginning.
The word carries two main shades of meaning. First, it denotes the outcome or issue of a situation, such as the bitter end of a sinful path (Proverbs 5:4) or the hopeful conclusion for those who trust God (Proverbs 23:18). Second, in prophetic contexts, it frequently means "latter days" or the distant future, as seen in Isaiah 2:2 and Daniel 10:14.
A key feature is its use in phrases like "in the latter end" (Deuteronomy 4:30) to mark a specific future turning point. Translators often render it as "end," "posterity," or "reward," depending on whether the focus is on time, descendants, or the final result of actions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word acharith points to what comes after the beginning. It describes the outcome of our choices or the distant future that God holds. In Proverbs, it often warns that sinful paths end in bitterness, while trusting God leads to a hopeful conclusion. This reminds us that our present actions shape our future reality.
In prophetic books like Jeremiah and Isaiah, the word shifts to mean the "latter days." Here, it speaks of God’s long-term plan for His people. Even when current circumstances feel dark, this term assures us that God sees the final chapter. It invites us to live with an eye toward eternity rather than just immediate gratification.
For your daily walk, this word encourages patience and wisdom. When you face difficult decisions, remember that every path has a destination. Choosing integrity today builds a stable foundation for tomorrow. You can trust that God’s perspective includes the full story, offering hope even when the present seems unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 57 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- at/ [the] end of14×
- and/ end/ its6×
- a future3×
- in/ end/ your2×
- [the] end of2×
- [is] a future2×
- <to>/ end/ their2×
- to/ posterity/ his1×
- to/ end/ its1×
- posterity/ his1×
- outcome/ its1×
- outcome/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/אַחֲרִ֥ית6×
- בְּ/אַחֲרִ֣ית6×
- אַחֲרִ֥ית4×
- וְ֝/אַחֲרִיתָ֗/הּ3×
- אַחֲרִ֖ית3×
- לְ/אַחֲרִיתָֽ/ם\׃2×
- וְ/אַחֲרִיתָ֖/הּ2×
- בְּ/אַחֲרִיתֶֽ/ךָ\׃2×
- אַחֲרִ֣ית2×
- אַחֲרִ֑ית2×
- לְ/אַחֲרִיתָֽ/הּ\׃1×
- לְ/אַחֲרִיתֵ֖/ךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
This verse uses acharith to warn that paths appearing right initially often lead to death, highlighting the critical importance of long-term consequences over short-term appeal.
-
Deuteronomy 31:29
For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn away from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will happen to you in the latter days, because you will do that which is evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.”
Moses predicts evil will occur in the latter days due to Israel's future rebellion, showing how acharith functions as a prophetic marker for distant historical outcomes.
-
Proverbs 23:18
Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Here acharith is linked with a sure hope that will not be cut off, offering comfort that faithful living has a secure and positive future reward.
-
Psalms 73:17
until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
The psalmist considers the latter end of the wicked only after entering God's sanctuary, illustrating how divine perspective reveals the true final state of those who stray.