Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:Achor, meaning "trouble" or "disturbance" in Hebrew, is a significant location in the biblical narrative, primarily associated with the account of Achan in the Book of Joshua. The name reflects the consequences of sin and disobedience to God's commands.
Biblical References:The Valley of Achor is first mentioned in
Joshua 7:24-26, where it becomes the site of Achan's punishment. After the Israelites' defeat at Ai, Joshua discovers that Achan has taken forbidden items from Jericho, violating God's command. As a result, Achan, along with his family and possessions, is brought to the Valley of Achor, where they are stoned and burned to remove the sin from Israel. The Berean Standard Bible states: "Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah—the silver, the cloak, and the bar of gold—his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and brought them up to the Valley of Achor" (
Joshua 7:24).
The Valley of Achor is also mentioned in later prophetic literature as a symbol of hope and restoration. In
Hosea 2:15, God promises to transform the Valley of Achor into "a door of hope" for Israel, indicating a future redemption and renewal: "There I will give her back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt" (
Hosea 2:15).
Theological Significance:The account of Achor serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of obedience to God's commands. Achan's transgression and its consequences underscore the communal nature of sin and its impact on the entire community of Israel. The Valley of Achor becomes a place of judgment and purification, where the sin is addressed, and the people are restored to a right relationship with God.
In prophetic literature, the transformation of the Valley of Achor into a "door of hope" signifies God's redemptive power and His willingness to restore and bless His people despite their past failures. This duality of judgment and hope reflects the broader biblical theme of God's justice and mercy.
Geographical Location:The exact location of the Valley of Achor is not definitively known, but it is generally believed to be situated near Jericho, in the vicinity of the ancient city of Ai. Its geographical setting in the Judean wilderness aligns with its symbolic role as a place of both judgment and future hope.
Cultural and Historical Context:In the ancient Near Eastern context, the concept of communal responsibility and the severe consequences for disobedience were well understood. The narrative of Achan and the Valley of Achor would have resonated deeply with the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of covenant faithfulness and the collective responsibility to uphold God's laws.
Legacy and Influence:The Valley of Achor has continued to be a symbol of both warning and hope throughout Judeo-Christian thought. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the possibility of redemption through repentance and divine grace. The transformation from a place of trouble to a door of hope encapsulates the biblical message of God's enduring love and faithfulness to His people.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Achortrouble
ATS Bible Dictionary
AchorTrouble, a valley north of Jericho; so called, perhaps, from the troubles occasioned by the sin of Achan, who was here put to death,Joshua 7:26. The prophets allude to it with promises of hope and joy in the gospel era,Isaiah 65:10;Hosea 2:15.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Trouble, a valley near Jericho, so called in consequence of the trouble which the sin of Achan caused Israel (
Joshua 7:24, 26). The expression "valley of Achor" probably became proverbial for that which caused trouble, and when Isaiah (
Isaiah 65:10) refers to it he uses it in this sense: "The valley of Achor, a place for herds to lie down in;" i.e., that which had been a source of calamity would become a source of blessing. Hosea also (
Hosea 2:15) uses the expression in the same sense: "The valley of Achor for a door of hope;" i.e., trouble would be turned into joy, despair into hope. This valley has been identified with the Wady Kelt.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ACHORa'-kor (`akhor, "trouble," the idea of the word being that of trouble which is serious and extreme. SeeACHAN): The place where Achan was executed in the time of Joshua (Joshua 7:24, 26). In all the five places where it is mentioned it is described as the `emek, the arable valley of Achor. There is no ground in the record for the current idea that it must have been a locality with horrid and dismal physical features. It was on a higher level than the camp of Israel in the Jordan valley, and on a lower level than Debir-a different Debir from that ofJoshua 15:15. In a general way, as indicated by the points mentioned in the border of Judah, it was north of Betharabah, and south of Debir (Joshua 7:24;Joshua 15:7). Many identify it with the Wady Kelt which descends through a deep ravine from the Judean hills and runs between steep banks south of the modern Jericho to Jordan, the stream after rams becoming a foaming torrent. Possibly the name may have been applied to a region of considerable extent. InIsaiah 65:10 it is a region on the east side of the mountain ridge which is in some sense balanced with Sharon on the west side. By implication the thing depicted seems to be these rich agricultural localities so far recovered from desolation as to be good grounds for cattle and sheep. Hosea recognizes the comforting aspect of the dreadful affair in the valley of Achor; it was a doorway of hope to pardoned Israel (Hosea 2:15 (17)), and he hopes for like acceptance for the Israel of his own day.
Willis J. Beecher
Strong's Hebrew
268.achor -- the hind side, back part... 267, 268.
achor. 269 . the hind side, back part. Transliteration:
achor Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-khore') Short Definition: back.
... 267, 268.
achor. 269 .
...5911. Akor -- "disturbance," a valley on the border of Judah
... 5910, 5911. Akor. 5912 . "disturbance," a valley on the border of Judah.
Transliteration: Akor Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kore') Short Definition:Achor....Achor....
322. achorannith -- backwards
... Word Origin prol. fromachor Definition backwards NASB Word Usage back (2), back
again (1), backward (3), turned away (1). back ward, again....
Library
The Valley ofAchor
... HOSEA THE VALLEY OFACHOR. 'I will give her ... the valley ofAchor for a
door of hope.'"Hosea 2:15. The Prophet Hosea is remarkable...
The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money...
...Achor the king, a man of giant stature, hurling darts before and behind as he sat
on horseback, I slew; for I hurled a stone of sixty pounds weight, and cast...
The Fourth vision "On Earth"
... And we have like words in Hosea 2:14, 15, where we read that the valley ofAchor
(which was the first place on the road from the wilderness to Canaan, Joshua 7...
Receiving and Rejecting.
... how this man had sinned and incurred the anger of God, and he and all Israel carried
him and his family outside the camp unto the valley ofAchor, "and all...
The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... (6). Afflictions work for good, as they make way for comfort. "In the valley of
Achor is a door of hope" (Hosea 2:15)Achor signifies trouble....
Restraining Prayer: is it Sin?
... Here stands at the very threshold of Israel's history in Canaan the heap of stones
in the valley ofAchor, to tell us that God cannot bear sin, that God will...
The Omnipotent Summons.
... The star of Bethlehem shines, and the Valley ofAchor becomes a door of hope.
The all-devouring destroyer has to relinquish his prey....
"I Know, O Lord, that Thy Judgments are Right, and that Thou in...
... And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley ofAchor for
a door of hope; and she shall sing there." " Hosea 2:14,15....
Christ is King of Israel, and Christians are the Israelitic Race.
... Elect and My servants shall possess the inheritance, and shall dwell there; and
there shall be folds of flocks in the thicket, and the valley ofAchor shall be...
Book 5 Footnotes
... Accordingly, this Valley of Achar, orAchor, was and is a known place, a little
north of Gilgal, so called from the days of Joshua till this day....
Thesaurus
Achor (5 Occurrences)... The expression "valley of
Achor" probably became proverbial for that which caused
trouble, and when Isaiah (Isaiah 65:10) refers to it he uses it in this sense
...Achan (7 Occurrences)
... It was then found that Achan was guilty, and he was stoned to death in the valley
ofAchor.... SeeACHOR. Willis J. Beecher. Multi-Version Concordance...
Debir (12 Occurrences)
... Hebron. (2.) A place near the "valley ofAchor" (Joshua 15:7), on the north
boundary of Judah, between Jerusalem and Jericho. (3...
Mass (65 Occurrences)
... gold, and his sons and his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and
his tent and everything he had; and they took them up into the valley ofAchor...
Gilgal (39 Occurrences)
... 30). According to Joshua 15:7 it lay to the North of the valley ofAchor,
which formed the border between Judah and Benjamin. Here...
Northward (41 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley ofAchor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is...
Outgoings (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 and the border hath gone up towards Debir from the valley ofAchor,
and northward looking unto Gilgal, which 'is' over-against the ascent of Adummim...
Jericho (59 Occurrences)
... In New Testament times Jericho stood some distance to the south-east of the
ancient one, and near the opening of the valley ofAchor....
Gorge (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley ofAchor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is...
Grass-land (9 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 65:10 And Sharon will be a grass-land for the flocks, and the valley ofAchor
a resting-place for the herds: for my people whose hearts have been turned...
Resources
What is the significance of the Valley of Achor in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of Lo Debar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the Valley of Baca in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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