The Hebrew verb אָחַר (ʾaḥar) means “to delay” or “to tarry” and is found multiple times in the Hebrew Bible. This verb is mostly used in the Qal stem and conveys the idea of being late or lingering beyond an expected time. In some contexts, it can carry a negative connotation, such as failing to act promptly when expected.
The root of the verb is א־ח־ר, and it is used both literally and metaphorically. Below is a full conjugation chart of the verb in the Qal stem for past, present, future, and imperative forms. All Hebrew words are bolded for clear emphasis.
Past Tense (Perfect) — Qal
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | אָחַרְתִּי | אָחַרְנוּ |
| 2nd Person | אָחַרְתָּ (m) אָחַרְתְּ (f) |
אָחַרְתֶּם (m) אָחַרְתֶּן (f) |
| 3rd Person | אָחַר (m) אָחֲרָה (f) |
אָחֲרוּ |
Present Tense (Participle) — Qal
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | אָחֵר | אָחֲרִים |
| Feminine | אָחֶרֶת | אָחֲרוֹת |
Future Tense (Imperfect) — Qal
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | אֶאֱחַר | נֶאֱחַר |
| 2nd Person | תֶּאֱחַר (m) תֶּאֱחֲרִי (f) |
תֶּאֱחֲרוּ (m) תֶּאֱחַרְנָה (f) |
| 3rd Person | יֶאֱחַר (m) תֶּאֱחַר (f) |
יֶאֱחֲרוּ (m) תֶּאֱחַרְנָה (f) |
Imperative Mood — Qal
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | אֲחַר | אֲחֲרוּ |
| Feminine | אֲחֲרִי | אֲחַרְנָה |
Usage in the Hebrew Bible
One example of this verb is found in Exodus 32:1:
“וַיַּ֣רְא הָעָ֗ם כִּ֤י בֹשֵׁשׁ֙ מֹשֶׁ֔ה לָרֶ֖דֶת מִן־הָהָ֑ר” — “And the people saw that Moshe delayed (was late) in descending from the mountain.”
Here, although the form used is בֹשֵׁשׁ (from another root meaning “delay”), the root א־ח־ר appears elsewhere with similar meaning, such as in Genesis 24:56 where Eliezer says, “Do not delay me.”
Key Insights
The verb אָחַר adds nuance to Biblical Hebrew in expressing lateness, hesitation, or delay. While not among the most frequent verbs, its appearances are significant in narrative contexts where time and responsiveness are key themes. Recognizing its various forms helps deepen one’s understanding of biblical text structure and action timing.
