מָחָר
properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter
Definition
The Hebrew word מָחָר (mâchâr) fundamentally means 'tomorrow' or 'the next day,' referring to the immediate future. It is most commonly used as a temporal adverb, as in Exodus 8:10, where Pharaoh sets a time: 'Tomorrow.' Beyond the literal next day, it can signify an indefinite or general future, a 'time to come,' as seen in its use for deferred actions or promises (e.g., Genesis 30:33). In some prophetic or instructional contexts, it carries a sense of impending consequence or a forthcoming event determined by God, such as the plagues announced 'for tomorrow' in Exodus 9:5 and 9:18.
Biblical Usage
מָחָר appears 52 times, predominantly in the narrative books of the Torah (especially Exodus) and the historical books. Its primary usage is adverbial, setting a specific time for an action on the following day, often in dialogue concerning plans, promises, or divine announcements. A key pattern is its frequent use in the Exodus narrative for God or Moses declaring a plague or action for 'tomorrow' (Exodus 8:10, 23; 9:5, 18; 10:4), emphasizing God's controlled timing. It also appears in legal or instructional contexts about future inquiry, as in Exodus 13:14.
Etymology
The noun מָחָר is likely derived from the root אָחַר (ʼāchar, H309), which means 'to delay,' 'to tarry,' or 'to be behind.' This etymological connection underscores the core idea of מָחָר as 'the deferred time'—that which comes after or later. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings for 'tomorrow' or 'the morrow,' indicating a common linguistic heritage for this basic temporal concept.
Semantic Range
While a common temporal term, מָחָר gains theological weight in contexts of divine promise and human response. When God declares an action for 'tomorrow,' it underscores His sovereign control over time and the certainty of His word (Exodus 9:5, 18). Conversely, human plans for 'tomorrow' (e.g., Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13-15) are contrasted with God's will, highlighting the uncertainty of life and the folly of presumption. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by clarifying when a text points to immediate, divinely appointed futures versus vague, human-oriented planning.
In ancient Israelite culture, 'tomorrow' (מָחָר) represented the immediate, knowable future, distinct from a distant, unknown 'latter days.' Planning for the next day was practical and common, but the biblical writers often use it to contrast human short-term certainty with divine, often disruptive, intervention. The concept lacked the modern abstraction of 'the future' as a long-term, predictable timeline; it was the very next step, making divine announcements for 'tomorrow' particularly urgent and concrete.
עָתִיד (ʻāthîd, H6264) — refers to a future time that is appointed or destined, often more distant. יוֹם (yôm, H3117) — a general term for 'day'; context determines if it means 'today' or a future day. אַחֲרִית (ʼachărîyth, H319) — the 'latter end' or final outcome, a distant future, often eschatological.
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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