Original Word: אָחוֹר
Part of Speech: substantive
Transliteration: achowr
Pronunciation: a-khor
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-khore')
KJV: after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without
NASB: back, backward, rear, afterward, away, backs, behind
Word Origin: [from H299 (אֲחִירַע - Ahira)]

1. the hinder part
2. (hence, adverbly) behind, backward
3. (also, as facing north) the West

afterward, back part hereafter, hinder part, time to come, without

Or (shortened) achor {aw-khore'}; from Achiyra'; the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the West -- after(-ward), back (part, -side, -ward), hereafter, (be-)hind(-er part), time to come, without.

see HEBREW Achiyra'

Word Origin
from achar
Definition
the hind side, back part
NASB Translation
afterward (1), away (1), back (22), backs (1), backward (7), behind (1), hereafter (1), hindquarters (1), rear (3), rear parts (1), west (1).

אָחוֺר₄₁ substantive (Arabic ) the hinder side, back part, in the singular, mostly in adverbial phrases: —

a. as accusative, in poetry backwards23t. ( = prose אֲחֹרַנִּית) with verbs such as נָפַל fall Genesis 49:17, נָשׂוֺג be turned 2 Samuel 1:22 ("" תָּשׁוּב רֵיקָם), שׁוּב Psalm 9:4; Psalm 56:10 +, נָסוֺג Psalm 35:4; Psalm 40:15 + (of enemies repulsed), Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 50:5 (from obedience to God), נָזוֺר Isaiah 1:4, הֵשׁיב Isaiah 44:25; Psalm 44:11, הִכָּה Psalm 78:66; behind (opposed to קֶדֶם) Psalm 139:5; Job 23:8; in the phrase מָּנִים וְאָחוֺר in front and behind 1 Chronicles 19:10 (altered from ׳וּמֵאָ ׳מִמָּ in 2Samuel see below) 2Chronicles 13:14; Ezekiel 2:10.

b. בְּאָחוֺר Proverbs 29:11, וְחָכָם בְּאָחוֺר יְשַׁבְּחֶנָּה Ges Hi but a wise man stilleth it (רוּחַ anger) backwards (that is, when it would break forth), De in the background, that is, of his heart ("" כָּלרֿוּחוֺ יוֺצִיא כְסִיל).

c. לְאָחוֺר (α) as a. Psalm 114:3; Psalm 114:5; Jeremiah 7:24; (β) of time, hereafter (compare לְפָנִים = before) Isaiah 41:23; Isaiah 42:23.

d. מֵאָחוֺר behind (מן = on the side of) 2 Samuel 10:9 ׳מִמָּנִים וּמֵ in front and behind, Isaiah 9:11 ׳וּפְלִשְׁתִּים מֵאָ and the Philistines behind (= on the West), opposed to אֲרָם מִקֶּדֶם. Plur. construct אֲחֹרֵי hinder part (of the tabernacle) Exodus 26:12, (of a man or animal Exodus 33:23; 1 Kings 7:25 (= 2 Chronicles 4:4) Ezekiel 8:16.

Overview of Usage

אָחוֹר (’achor) occurs about forty-one times, functioning adverbially (“back, backward, behind”) and as a noun (“rear, hinder part”). Scripture uses it both literally—describing spatial orientation—and metaphorically—expressing retreat, apostasy, concealment, shame, and divine protection.

Spatial and Physical Sense

1. Rear position: Exodus 33:23 records the only time anyone is said to see the LORD’s “back”: “Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.” Here אָחוֹר underscores distance and limitation in beholding God’s glory.
2. Human posture: Ezekiel 8:16 pictures apostates “with their backs toward the temple of the LORD.”
3. Geography and movement: Numbers 14:25 commands Israel, “Turn back and head for the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea,” highlighting physical reversal of direction.

Divine Self-Revelation and Mystery

Moses may view only God’s “back,” stressing both intimacy and limitation. The contrast between “face” (pānîm) and “back” (’achor) accentuates the Creator–creature distinction that is later bridged through the incarnate Son, who fully reveals the Father (John 1:18).

Moral and Spiritual Metaphor

1. Apostasy: Jeremiah 7:24—“They followed the stubbornness of their own hearts and went backward and not forward.” אָחוֹר becomes a metaphor for regression away from covenant obedience.
2. Idolatry: 1 Kings 14:9 rebukes Jeroboam, “You have cast Me behind your back and have made for yourself other gods.” To put God “behind one’s back” is deliberate dismissal of His lordship.
3. National repentance: Nehemiah 9:26 laments, “They flung Your Law behind their backs,” but later generations confess and turn again, moving from “backward” to “before” the LORD.

Judgment and Deliverance in Warfare

Several psalms associate אָחוֹר with enemy retreat, demonstrating divine intervention:
• Psalm 9:3: “When my enemies retreat, they stumble and perish before You.”
• Psalm 56:9: “Then my enemies will retreat on the day I call.”
• Psalm 129:5: “May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame.”

The vocabulary of reversal underscores that victory belongs to the LORD; He causes hostile forces to go “backward.”

Acts of Apostasy and Idolatry

Prophets employ אָחוֹר to expose the folly of idol worship. Isaiah 42:17 warns, “They will be turned back and utterly put to shame—those who trust in idols.” Turning “back” becomes both consequence and description of spiritual deviation.

Covenant Fidelity and Repentance

Conversely, Hosea 14:4 records the LORD’s promise, “I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them,” implying a reversal of the reversal—moving the people from אָחוֹר to restored fellowship. Repentance is portrayed as facing God anew rather than keeping Him “behind.”

Prophetic Hope and Eschatological Reversal

Isaiah 1:4 mourns that Judah has “turned their backs on the Holy One of Israel,” yet later prophecies foresee a day when shame is removed and the nations stream “to the mountain of the LORD.” The final restoration overturns every backward movement brought by sin.

Christological and New Testament Reflections

Moses saw only the LORD’s “back,” but in Jesus Christ believers see “the radiance of His glory” (Hebrews 1:3). The temporal limitation implied by אָחוֹר anticipates the fuller revelation in the gospel, where the veil is lifted and believers behold God’s “face” in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Ministry Applications

1. Call to vigilance: Leaders must urge congregations not to “turn back” in unbelief (Hebrews 10:38–39).
2. Assurance of victory: Prayer trusts God to make spiritual adversaries retreat.
3. Repentance and discipleship: Pastors can contrast walking “backward” with pressing “forward toward the goal” (Philippians 3:14), using the imagery of אָחוֹר to illustrate both danger and hope.

אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם אֲחֹֽרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲחֹרֵ֥י אֲחֹרֵיהֶ֖ם אֲחֹרָ֑י אָ֭חוֹר אָח֑וֹר אָח֔וֹר אָח֖וֹר אָח֛וֹר אָח֣וֹר אָחֽוֹר׃ אָחוֹר֒ אָחוֹר֙ אחור אחור׃ אחרי אחריהם בְּאָח֥וֹר באחור וְ֝אָח֗וֹר וְאָח֑וֹר וְאָח֔וֹר וּמֵֽאָח֑וֹר ואחור ומאחור לְאָח֔וֹר לְאָח֖וֹר לְאָחֽוֹר׃ לאחור לאחור׃ מֵֽאָח֔וֹר מאחור ’ă·ḥō·rāy ’ă·ḥō·rê ’ă·ḥō·rê·hem ’ā·ḥō·wr ’ăḥōrāy ’ăḥōrê ’ăḥōrêhem ’āḥōwr aChor achoRai achoRei achoreiHem bə’āḥōwr bə·’ā·ḥō·wr beaChor lə’āḥōwr lə·’ā·ḥō·wr leaChor mê’āḥōwr mê·’ā·ḥō·wr meaChor ū·mê·’ā·ḥō·wr ūmê’āḥōwr umeaChor veaChor wə’āḥōwr wə·’ā·ḥō·wrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts