מָחָר
𐤌𐤇𐤓
mâchâr
H4279 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An adverb and occasionally substantive indicating 'the (next) day' or 'tomorrow,' and by extension, 'in the future' or 'hereafter.' In narrative and legal contexts, it refers specifically to the day following the current day or event. In broader or poetic usage, it can be used more generally for an indefinite future time.
Semantic Range
the next day, tomorrow (literal calendrical sense); the following day; in the future, hereafter (indefinite or poetic usage)
Root / Etymology
From the root אחר (ʼ-ḥ-r), meaning 'to be behind, to delay, be late.' מָחָר is a time-related derivative from this root, shifting from the notion of 'being behind' or 'after' to designate the day after the present, i.e., 'tomorrow.' The process involves semantic development from spatial/temporal delay to a discrete future unit of time.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מָחָר is found in legal, narrative, and prophetic texts. Its most frequent sense is the straightforward calendrical 'the next day' (e.g., Exod 9:6, Josh 5:11), marking a point in sequential time. In poetry and prophecy, it can stretch to mean 'hereafter' or a vague 'in time to come,' though this usage is less common. English 'tomorrow' is functionally the main equivalent for most cases. However, מָחָר does not carry the idea of a set eschatological future as some later English 'hereafter' or 'future' might; it is generally more immediate or context-dependent. There is some overlap with other terms for future time (such as אחרית 'latter end'), but מָחָר retains its concrete sense of the next succeeding day or, idiomatically, a near-term future. It is never used with reference to religious or ethnic identity, and its temporal meaning does not shift substantially across earlier vs. later strata of biblical Hebrew. In post-biblical Hebrew (e.g., Mishnah), usage continues, solidifying the 'tomorrow' sense, which persists in Modern Hebrew.
Translation Consistency
'Tomorrow' is the overwhelmingly dominant and natural rendering (47 of 52 occurrences) and fits the primary calendrical/adverbial sense of מָחָר—the next day. It also naturally covers the extended poetic/indefinite sense of ‘in the future’ or ‘hereafter,’ while remaining simple and consistent across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from אָחַר; properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter; time to come, tomorrow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אחר (Acherach) — to be behind, to come after, to defer, to follow
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H268 | אָחוֹר | rear |
| H309 | אָחַר | he delayed |
| H310 | אַחַר | after, behind |
| H311 | אַחַר | behind / after |
| H312 | אַחֵר | another (masculine) |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4279-02 |
מָחָר֙ | machar | HNcmsa |
tomorrow | the after-day | tomorrow | 41 |
H4279-03 |
וּ/מָחָ֕ר | umachar | HC/Ncmsa |
and tomorrow | and the after-day | and tomorrow | 6 |
H4279-01 |
לְ/מָחָ֛ר | lemachar | HR/Ncmsa |
for tomorrow | for tomorrow | for tomorrow | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
52 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4279-02 |
2 Chronicles 20:16 | מָחָר֙ | machar | HNcmsa |
tomorrow | the after-day | tomorrow |
H4279-02 |
2 Chronicles 20:17 | מָחָר֙ | machar | HNcmsa |
tomorrow | the after-day | tomorrow |