עָכוֹר (a.khor)
a.khor
(Valley of) Achor
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun achor literally means "trouble" or "disturbance." It appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily as part of the proper name Achor, which combines this word with meq ("valley") to form "Valley of Trouble." This location is most famously identified in Joshua 7:26 as the site where Achan and his family were executed for stealing devoted items from Jericho, bringing divine judgment upon Israel.
Despite its grim origins, the word carries a surprising theological turn in Isaiah 65:25. Here, the prophet describes a future era of peace where even the serpent will eat dust, and the "Valley of Trouble" is renamed or reimagined as a place of blessing. This shift suggests that what was once a site of judgment and disruption becomes part of God’s restored creation, highlighting a movement from chaos to harmony.
The etymology itself points to instability or something that has gone awry. Translators often render it simply as "trouble," but in Isaiah, the context transforms the name into a symbol of redemption. The word serves as a stark reminder that even places marked by sin and disorder can be reclaimed for peace.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Achor literally means trouble or stumbling block. In Joshua 7, it names a valley where Israel faced severe consequences for hidden sin. That place became a permanent reminder of how disobedience disrupts the community and brings judgment. It was a site of grief and loss, marking a low point in their journey.
Yet Isaiah offers a surprising hope. He envisions a future where this same valley becomes a safe pasture for flocks. What was once defined by failure is transformed into a place of rest for God’s people. This shift shows that trouble does not have the final word. Even our deepest failures can be reclaimed and used for restoration.
This progression invites us to look beyond our current struggles. We may feel trapped in a valley of our own making, but Scripture suggests that God can turn these places into pastures of peace. The story ends not with condemnation, but with renewal and hope for those who seek Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Achor4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָכוֹר֒1×
- עָכֽוֹר\׃1×
- עָכ֖וֹר1×
- עָכ֔וֹר1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 7:26
They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called “The valley of Achor” to this day.
This verse establishes the origin of the name, linking the location directly to divine judgment and the cessation of God's anger after Achan's sin was addressed.
-
Isaiah 65:10
Sharon will be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me.
Here the word undergoes a theological reversal, transforming the valley from a site of shame into a peaceful pasture for those who seek God.
-
Joshua 7:24
Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.
This occurrence highlights the communal nature of the consequence, showing how individual sin affected the entire group and led them to this specific location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word Achor mean?
Why is the Valley of Achor significant in the Bible?
How does the meaning of Achor change between Joshua and Isaiah?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 2 books)
Joshua 3 verses
Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his…
Joshua 7:26They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger.…
Joshua 15:7The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of…