Lexical Summary
acharon: Last, latter, end, future
Original Word:אַחֲרוֹן
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:acharown
Pronunciation:a-kha-ROHN
Phonetic Spelling:(akh-ar-one')
KJV: after (-ward), to come, following, hind(-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter)most
NASB:last, come, western, latter, afterward, later, next
Word Origin:[fromH309 (אָחַר - delay)]
1. hinder
2. (generally) late or last
3. (specifically) (as facing the east) western
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
afterward, to come, following, hinder last, latter, reward
Or (shortened);acharon {akh-ar-one'}; from'achar; hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western -- after (-ward), to come, following, hind(-er, -ermost, -most), last, latter, rereward, ut(ter)most.
see HEBREW'achar
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
acharDefinitioncoming after or behind
NASB Translationafterward (2), afterwards (1), come (5), come later (1), end (1), future* (1), last (23), last one (1), last ones (1), last time (1), later (2), later things (1), latter (3), next (2), ones who (1), rear (1), west (1), western (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
51 plural (also , coming after or behind (as a comparative or superlative, according to the context); hence
,behind, hindermostGenesis 33:2 (twice in verse);the hinder (= the Western) sea (i.e. the Mediterranean: opposed to the front sea = the Dead Sea, the Semites, in defining the quarters of the heavens, turning naturally to the East, compare of the East, , of the South, above under the word and Assyrianmat a—arru 'the Western land,' of Phoenicia & Palestine)Deuteronomy 11:24;Deuteronomy 34:2;Joel 2:20;Zechariah 14:8;Job 18:20 poetic Ew Hi Di Dethe dwellers in the West (opposed to ). More commonly
,latter orlast (according to context)Exodus 4:8;Deuteronomy 24:3;2 Samuel 19:12;Isaiah 8:23, of GodIsaiah 44:6 ("" )Isaiah 48:12 (do.) compareIsaiah 41:4; in Genl.subsequent (vaguely), = timeto comeIsaiah 30:8;Proverbs 31:25 (butNehemiah 8:18 =the last day),the following GenerationDeuteronomy 29:21;Psalm 48:14;Psalm 78:4;Psalm 78:6;Psalm 102:19,they that come afterJob 18:20 (Ges Schl)Ecclesiastes 1:11;Ecclesiastes 4:16, butIsaiah 41:4the last,Job 19:25 and asone coming after (me) (and so able to establish my innocence when I am dead) will he ( my Vindicator) arise upon the dust. — Thefeminine is used adverbially (compare ) =afterwards orat the last (according to context): (a) absoluteDaniel 11:29; () (opposed to )Deuteronomy 13:10;Deuteronomy 17:7;1 Samuel 29:2;2 Samuel 2:26;1 Kings 17:13;Daniel 8:3; ()Numbers 2:31 (P)Ecclesiastes 1:11.
Topical Lexicon
Range of Meaning and Distributionאַחֲרוֹן (akharon) appears roughly fifty-one times across the Old Testament, describing what is “last,” “latter,” “rear,” or “western.” Its breadth covers spatial (back, west), temporal (end, final), sequential (later, after), and qualitative (ultimate, decisive) ideas. The word is regularly paired with רִאשׁוֹן “first” to create an antithetic or complementary frame that anchors God’s revelation in beginnings and endings.
Spatial Orientation: West and Rear Guard
Because Israel envisioned the world while facing the sunrise, west was “behind.” Thus akharon frequently identifies the western side of structures or camps. For the tabernacle, “For the rear of the tabernacle, the west side, make six frames” (Exodus 26:22). When the tribes broke camp, Dan’s standard “shall set out last” behind the others (Numbers 2:31); this protected Israel from surprise assault, portraying God’s concern that no one be left exposed (Deuteronomy 25:17-18). The same term marks “the rear of the army” inJoshua 6:9, stressing ordered, defended progress in holy war.
Chronological and Generational Usage
Akharon often contrasts former and latter marriages (Deuteronomy 24:3-4), generations (Job 42:12), or days. Moses warns, “I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly… disaster will befall you in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 31:29). The prophets pick up the idiom: “The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has performed… the latter days you will understand it” (Jeremiah 23:20). Here akharon frames history as purposeful, moving toward an appointed divine reckoning.
Prophetic and Eschatological Significance
Isaiah twice places akharon on God’s lips: “I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last I am He” (Isaiah 41:4); “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me” (Isaiah 44:6). The title anticipates Revelation’s “Alpha and Omega,” yet already in the Hebrew text proclaims Yahweh’s sovereign containment of history from origin to consummation. Job’s confession, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25), projects resurrection hope into that same akharon horizon.
Cultic, Legal, and Wisdom Contexts
Leviticus 5:24 requires restitution of the principal plus a fifth, “and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he presents his guilt offering.” Although akharon is not used there, texts likeDeuteronomy 29:21 link covenant curses to “the last generation,” urging every age to renew fidelity.Ecclesiastes 1:11 laments, “There is no remembrance of those who came before, and of those who will follow, there will also be no remembrance by those who come after later still.” Wisdom literature thus warns that without God, later outcomes may be emptiness, yet with Him they are fulfillment (Proverbs 5:11; 23:32).
Narrative Theology: Reversal and Redemption
Scripture repeatedly shows God saving the “last.” Ruth, an impoverished Moabite widow, stands among “those who came later,” yet becomes ancestress of David and Messiah. David himself is the youngest, overlooked until the prophet calls for the one behind the flock (1 Samuel 16:11-12). These narratives embody Jesus’ maxim, “Many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30), tying New Testament teaching to theHebrew concept rooted in akharon.
The Lord of the Last Things
Akharon vocabulary sustains biblical eschatology. Daniel foretells “the end of the indignation” (Daniel 8:19) when divine wrath finishes its course.Hosea 3:5 promises, “Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord… they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.” Each usage insists that history’s terminus is not chaos but covenant restoration under David’s greater Son.
Implications for Ministry Today
1. Perspective: Believers navigate present trials by the certainty that God governs the akharon.
2. Perseverance: Like Dan guarding the rear, churches uphold the vulnerable, ensuring no disciple is “last” in care.
3. Proclamation: Preaching should situate every text within God’s first-to-last storyline, climaxing in Christ who declares, “I am the First and the Last” (Revelation 1:17).
4. Preparation: Knowing “the latter days” will reveal the wisdom of God’s ways, leaders call congregations to holiness that will stand scrutiny at the end.
In sum, אַחֲרוֹן binds together geography, chronology, liturgy, and prophecy to announce that the God who inaugurated creation will also close it in righteousness, vindicating His people and His Name.
Forms and Transliterations
אַ֭חֲרוֹן אַֽחֲרֹנִ֔ים אַחֲר֑וֹן אַחֲר֔וֹן אַחֲר֗וֹן אַחֲרֹנִ֑ים אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים אַחֲרֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֹנִֽים׃ אַחֲרֹנִים֒ אַחֲרֽוֹן׃ אחרון אחרון׃ אחרנים אחרנים׃ בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֑ה בָּאַחֲרֹנָ֖ה בָּאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃ בָּאַחֲרוֹנָ֑ה באחרונה באחרנה באחרנה׃ הָֽאַחֲר֔וֹן הָֽאַחֲר֗וֹן הָאַ֣חֲרֹנִ֔ים הָאַֽחֲר֑וֹן הָאַֽחֲרֹנִ֑ים הָאַֽחֲרוֹן֙ הָאַחֲר֑וֹן הָאַחֲר֔וֹן הָאַחֲר֖וֹן הָאַחֲרֽוֹן׃ הָאַחֲרוֹן֒ הָאַחֲרוֹן֙ הָאַחֲרוֹנִ֖ים האחרון האחרון׃ האחרונים האחרנים וְ֝אַחֲר֗וֹן וְהָאֲ֣חַרוֹנִ֔ים וְהָאֲחֲרֹנִ֑ים וְהָאֲחֲרוֹנִ֑ים וְהָאֲחרֹנִ֑ים וְהָאַחֲר֖וֹן וְהָאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִ֑ים וְכָאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃ ואחרון והאחרון והאחרונים והאחרנים וכאחרנה׃ לָאַחֲרֹנִ֜ים לָאַחֲרֹנָ֥ה לָאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃ לאחרנה לאחרנה׃ לאחרנים ’a·ḥă·rō·nîm ’a·ḥă·rō·wn ’aḥărōnîm ’aḥărōwn achaRon acharoNim bā’aḥărōnāh bā’aḥărōwnāh bā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh bā·’a·ḥă·rō·w·nāh baacharoNah hā’aḥărōnîm hā’aḥărōwn hā’aḥărōwnîm hā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm hā·’a·ḥă·rō·w·nîm hā·’a·ḥă·rō·wn haachaRon haacharoNim lā’aḥărōnāh lā’aḥărōnîm lā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh lā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm laacharoNah laacharoNim veachaRon vechaacharoNah vehaachaRon vehaacharoNim vehaachroNim wə’aḥărōwn wə·’a·ḥă·rō·wn wə·hā·’ă·ḥ·rō·nîm wə·hā·’a·ḥă·rō·nîm wə·hā·’ă·ḥă·rō·nîm wə·hā·’a·ḥă·rō·w·nîm wə·hā·’ă·ḥa·rō·w·nîm wə·hā·’ă·ḥă·rō·w·nîm wə·hā·’a·ḥă·rō·wn wə·ḵā·’a·ḥă·rō·nāh wəhā’aḥărōnîm wəhā’ăḥărōnîm wəhā’aḥărōwn wəhā’aḥărōwnîm wəhā’ăḥarōwnîm wəhā’ăḥărōwnîm wəhā’ăḥrōnîm wəḵā’aḥărōnāh
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