מׇחֳרָת (mo.cho.rat)
mo.cho.rat
morrow
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 30 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun machorat refers to the day following a specific past event, essentially meaning "the morrow" or "the next day." Unlike words that simply mean "tomorrow" in a future sense, this term anchors time relative to something that has already happened. It appears thirty times in the Old Testament, serving as a narrative marker for what occurs after a significant moment.
Its usage is often precise and structural. In Leviticus 23, it helps define the counting of days for festivals, such as counting from "the day after the Sabbath" to determine the timing of offerings. In historical books like Samuel and Kings, it frequently introduces the next scene in a story, noting that an event happened "on the morrow" after a battle or a decision.
The word derives from the same root as machar, which means "tomorrow," but adds a feminine suffix that turns the concept into a substantive noun. This grammatical shift allows it to function as a distinct point in time rather than just an adverb of when. Translators typically render it as "morrow" or "next day," preserving its role as a bridge between past actions and their immediate consequences.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word machorat anchors us in the rhythm of time, pointing specifically to the day following a significant event. It is not merely a future marker but a bridge between what has happened and what comes next. In the narrative of Scripture, this term often signals a turning point or a moment of consequence, reminding readers that every action carries weight into the immediate future.
For your daily walk, this concept offers a gentle perspective on patience and divine timing. Just as the Israelites waited for the manna to cease after entering the Promised Land (Joshua 5:12), you may find yourself in seasons where old provisions end and new realities begin. Machorat encourages us to trust that the day after difficulty is not empty, but filled with God’s continued presence and provision.
When life feels uncertain, remember that time belongs to the Lord. Each morrow brings fresh opportunities for grace, whether in the quiet counting of festival days or the sudden shifts in historical events. Rest in the assurance that God is faithful to guide you through each day, one after another.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 30 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ [the] next day17×
- from/ [the] next day of6×
- and/ from/ [the] next day3×
- to/ [the] next day of1×
- to the/ next day1×
- the/ next day1×
- of/ next day/ their1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרָ֔ת12×
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרָ֗ת4×
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרַ֤ת2×
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרָת֒1×
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרַת֙1×
- מִֽ/מָּחֳרַ֣ת1×
- מִ/מָּחֳרַ֣ת1×
- מִ/מָּֽחֳרַ֥ת1×
- לַֽ/מָּחֳרָ֑ת1×
- לְֽ/מָחֳרַת֮1×
- לְ/מָֽחֳרָתָ֑/ם1×
- וּ/מִֽ/מָּחֳרָֽת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 9:6
Yahweh did that thing on the next day; and all the livestock of Egypt died, but of the livestock of the children of Israel, not one died.
This verse highlights machorat as a marker of divine judgment, showing how the next day brought a distinct separation between Egypt and Israel.
-
Joshua 5:12
The manna ceased on the next day, after they had eaten of the produce of the land. The children of Israel didn’t have manna any more, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
Here the word signifies the end of an era, marking the day the manna ceased and the people began eating the produce of Canaan.
-
Leviticus 23:11
He shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
In this legal context, machorat structures the counting of days for the Feast of Firstfruits, emphasizing precise obedience to God's calendar.
-
I Samuel 5:3
When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again.
The narrative uses this term to show the immediate consequence of the Ark's presence, as Dagon falls before Yahweh on the following morning.