אֲחֹרַנִּית
backwards
Definition
The Hebrew word אֲחֹרַנִּית (ʼăchôrannîyth) primarily means 'backwards' or 'in a reverse direction.' It describes physical movement opposite to the normal or expected forward course, as seen when the shadow on the sundial moves backwards as a sign for King Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:10-11, Isaiah 38:8). It can also denote turning one's face away or looking back, as when Shem and Japheth walked backwards to cover their father Noah without seeing his nakedness (Genesis 9:23). In a figurative sense, it implies a reversal of fortune or divine intervention that turns events around, such as when Elijah prays for God to answer him so the people will know the Lord has turned their hearts 'back' to Himself (1 Kings 18:37).
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative and prophetic books. It consistently describes a literal backward motion or orientation. In Genesis 9:23, it describes walking backwards to avoid seeing. In 1 Samuel 4:18, Eli falls backward off his seat. In 1 Kings 18:37, it's used metaphorically for turning hearts back. The most dramatic usage is in the accounts of Hezekiah's sign, where the shadow moves backwards on the stairway (2 Kings 20:10-11, Isaiah 38:8), demonstrating a supernatural reversal of natural order.
Etymology
Derived from the Hebrew root אָחוֹר (ʼāchôr, H268), meaning 'back part,' 'behind,' or 'west.' The form אֲחֹרַנִּית is a prolonged or adverbial form, giving it the specific sense of 'backwards' or 'in a backward direction.' It is related to the common word for 'back' or 'rear,' emphasizing orientation away from the front.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is associated with divine signs and interventions that reverse the natural order. The backward movement of the shadow for Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:8-11) was a miraculous sign confirming God's promise of healing and extended life, demonstrating God's sovereignty over time and nature. In 1 Kings 18:37, Elijah's prayer uses the concept of turning hearts 'back' to God, highlighting repentance and restoration as a return to a prior covenantal relationship. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by emphasizing that God can literally and figuratively reverse directions—turning judgment to mercy, sickness to health, and apostasy to faithfulness.
In the ancient Near East, the direction one faced held cultural and religious significance. Facing forward was associated with engagement, honor, and the future, while turning backwards could indicate avoidance, shame, or retreat. The miraculous sign of the shadow moving backwards would have been understood as a direct contravention of the sun's perceived divine course, a powerful demonstration of Yahweh's supremacy over celestial bodies worshipped by other cultures.
אָחוֹר (ʼāchôr, H268) — The root word meaning 'the back,' 'behind,' or 'west,' denoting a location rather than a direction of movement. שׁוּב (shûv, H7725) — A common verb meaning 'to turn back' or 'return,' focusing on the action of reversal or repentance rather than the specific direction 'backwards.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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