Lexical Summary
athah: come, comes, bring
Original Word:אָתָה
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:athah
Pronunciation:ah-thah
Phonetic Spelling:(aw-thaw')
KJV: (be-, things to) come (upon), bring
NASB:come, comes, bring, came, past, things, things that are coming
Word Origin:[a primitive root (collateral toH225 (אוּת - consent) contraction)]
1. to arrive
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
be-, things to come upon, bring
Or matha {aw-thaw'}; a primitive root (collateral to'uwth contraction); to arrive -- (be-, things to) come (upon), bring.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto come
NASB Translationbring (2), came (2), come (10), comes (4), past (1), things (1), things that are coming (1), things to come (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(in Hebrew only poetry) (Arabic
, Sabean DHM
ZMG 1875, 597; 1888, 343, Aramaic ,
) —
PerfectDeuteronomy 33:2;Isaiah 21:12 see Ges§ 75 R. 22; 1 pluralJeremiah 3:22;ImperfectJob 37:22;Proverbs 1:27;Deuteronomy 33:21 (= compare Di Köi. 577),Isaiah 41:25; suffixJob 3:25; 3feminine singularMicah 4:3; 3masculine pluralJob 16:22 2t.;Isaiah 41:5;Imperative masculine pluralIsaiah 21:12 2t.;Participle feminine pluralIsaiah 41:23 2t.; —come, of menDeuteronomy 33:21;Psalm 68:32;Isaiah 41:25;Isaiah 56:12Imperative = come now, with hostile purposeJob 30:14, of men untoJeremiah 3:22 (followed by ) compareIsaiah 21:12; ofDeuteronomy 33:2; of ends of earth, etc., personifiedIsaiah 41:5; of time, morningIsaiah 21:12, yearsJob 16:22; of weatherJob 37:22; of beasts, to devourIsaiah 56:9 (followed by infinitive), of calamityProverbs 1:27;Job 3:25come upon, with suffix, of dominionMicah 4:8 (followed by ).Participle plural feminine as substantivethings to come, future thingsIsaiah 41:23;Isaiah 44:7;Isaiah 45:11.
bring, ImperativeIsaiah 21:14bring water (on form, for compare Di Ew§ 141 a Ges§ 68, 2 R. 1);Jeremiah 12:9bring beasts, to devour.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe Hebrew verb underlying Strong’s 857 conveys the movement of arrival, approach, or coming toward a point of encounter. Whether the subject is the LORD, a nation, calamity, or a repentant sinner, the action consistently signals decisive moments in redemptive history: rescue, judgment, covenant renewal, or prophetic fulfillment.
Distribution in Scripture
Twenty-one canonical occurrences span the Pentateuch, Wisdom literature, and the Prophets. Mosaic blessing (Deuteronomy), Job’s laments, Davidic praise (Psalms), Solomonic counsel (Proverbs), and major/minor prophets all employ the verb, underscoring its thematic breadth—from past theophany to eschatological hope.
Divine Arrival and Theophany
Deuteronomy 33:2 anchors the verb in Israel’s foundational memory: “The LORD came from Sinai… He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones.” The verb frames God’s self-revelation in covenant glory.Job 37:22 echoes this majesty: “From the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him.” In both contexts the LORD’s coming establishes divine authority and evokes worshipful fear.
Covenant Leadership and Tribal Inheritance
Deuteronomy 33:21 blesses Gad’s participation in conquest: “He came with the heads of the people; he carried out the righteousness of the LORD.” The tribe’s “coming” alongside Israel’s leaders models obedient alignment with God’s mission. Leadership today likewise “comes” alongside God’s purposes through faithful action.
Human Experience of Unwelcome Arrival
Job 3:25 records dread realized: “What I feared has come upon me,” andProverbs 1:27 depicts calamity’s sudden appearance: “When dread comes like a storm, and your calamity arrives like a whirlwind.” The verb portrays adversity’s inescapable intrusion, highlighting humanity’s vulnerability apart from divine refuge.
Prophetic Invitations and Warnings
Isaiah’s watchman issues a double-edged report: “Morning has come, but also night” (Isaiah 21:12). The same verse then urges inquiry and return. Later,Isaiah 56:9–12 employs the verb in a summons to devouring beasts and indulgent leaders—graphic imagery for judgment on negligent shepherds. Jeremiah echoes the motif: “Gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour” (Jeremiah 12:9). The verb thus functions as an ominous trumpet, announcing consequences for covenant breach.
Repentant Approach to God
Jeremiah 3:22 presents the verb in a grace-filled reply: “‘Here we are; we come to You, for You are the LORD our God.’” The same movement that brought judgment now describes restored relationship. True repentance always includes deliberate coming to the LORD.
Gentile Response and Global Fear
Isaiah 41:5 notes the coastlands’ reaction to God’s rising Servant: “The islands see and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come.” Even distant peoples must reckon with Yahweh’s advancing plan, prefiguring Great Commission realities.
Eschatological Kingship
Micah 4:8 holds future promise: “Kingly dominion will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.” The verb anticipates Messiah’s kingdom. The New Testament answers with Jesus’ proclamation, “The kingdom of God has come near” (compareMark 1:15), linking Hebrew expectation to Gospel fulfillment.
Missional Hospitality
Isaiah 21:14 instructs the inhabitants of Tema: “Bring water for the thirsty; meet the fugitives with food.” Arrival prompts compassionate reception—an Old Testament precedent for New Testament admonitions to practice hospitality (Hebrews 13:2).
Ministry Applications
1. Preach the certainty of God’s intervention—He “comes” in both grace and judgment.
2. Call hearers to decisive response; delay invites calamity that likewise “comes.”
3. Encourage leaders to align their “coming” with God’s righteousness, as Gad did.
4. Model hospitality toward refugees and the marginalized, reflecting Tema’s charge.
5. Foster eschatological hope: the kingdom that “will come” is secured in Christ’s first advent and awaits consummation.
Devotional Reflection
Meditate onPsalm 68:31: “Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.” Picture once-hostile nations approaching the throne in worship—a preview of Revelation’s multi-ethnic multitude. Let this vision shape intercessory prayer and missionary zeal.
Key Themes for Study and Meditation
• Theophany and covenant revelation
• Calamity versus comfort
• Prophetic summons and repentance
• Gentile inclusion
• Kingdom consummation
Suggested Cross-References
Genesis 49:10;Psalm 96:13;Matthew 24:30;Revelation 22:20—all center on the climactic “coming” that Strong’s 857 foreshadows throughout the Old Testament narrative.
Forms and Transliterations
אֵתָ֕יוּ אֵתָ֥יוּ אֵתָֽיוּ׃ אָתָ֣נוּ אָתָ֥ה אתה אתיו אתיו׃ אתנו הֵתָ֣יוּ הֵתָ֥יוּ הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת האתיות התיו וְאָתָ֖ה וְאֹתִיּ֛וֹת וַיֵּתֵא֙ וַיֶּאֱתָיֵ֑נִי וַיֶּאֱתָיֽוּן׃ וַיַּ֔את ואתה ואתיות ויאת ויאתיון׃ ויאתיני ויתא יֶֽאֱתֶ֑ה יֶאֱתֶ֑ה יֶאֱתָ֑יוּ יֶאֱתָ֣יוּ יאתה יאתיו תֵּאתֶ֑ה תאתה ’ā·ṯā·nū ’ā·ṯāh ’āṯāh ’āṯānū ’ê·ṯā·yū ’êṯāyū aTah aTanu eTayu hā’ōṯîyōwṯ hā·’ō·ṯî·yō·wṯ haotiYot hê·ṯā·yū heTayu hêṯāyū tê·ṯeh teTeh têṯeh vaiYat vaiyeetaYeni vaiyeetaYun vaiyeTe veaTah veotiYot way·yaṯ way·ye·’ĕ·ṯā·yê·nî way·ye·’ĕ·ṯā·yūn way·yê·ṯê wayyaṯ wayye’ĕṯāyênî wayye’ĕṯāyūn wayyêṯê wə’āṯāh wə’ōṯîyōwṯ wə·’ā·ṯāh wə·’ō·ṯî·yō·wṯ ye’ĕṯāyū ye’ĕṯeh ye·’ĕ·ṯā·yū ye·’ĕ·ṯeh yeeTayu yeeTeh
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