Bible Encyclopedia: Achor

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ACHOR

a'-kor (`akhor, "trouble," the idea of the word being that of trouble which is serious and extreme. See ACHAN): The place where Achan was executed in the time of Joshua (Joshua 7:24, 26). In all the five places where it is mentioned it is described as the `emek, the arable valley of Achor. There is no ground in the record for the current idea that it must have been a locality with horrid and dismal physical features. It was on a higher level than the camp of Israel in the Jordan valley, and on a lower level than Debir-a different Debir from that of Joshua 15:15. In a general way, as indicated by the points mentioned in the border of Judah, it was north of Betharabah, and south of Debir (Joshua 7:24; Joshua 15:7). Many identify it with the Wady Kelt which descends through a deep ravine from the Judean hills and runs between steep banks south of the modern Jericho to Jordan, the stream after rams becoming a foaming torrent. Possibly the name may have been applied to a region of considerable extent. In Isaiah 65:10 it is a region on the east side of the mountain ridge which is in some sense balanced with Sharon on the west side. By implication the thing depicted seems to be these rich agricultural localities so far recovered from desolation as to be good grounds for cattle and sheep. Hosea recognizes the comforting aspect of the dreadful affair in the valley of Achor; it was a doorway of hope to pardoned Israel (Hosea 2:15 (17)), and he hopes for like acceptance for the Israel of his own day.

Willis J. Beecher

Strong's Hebrew

268. achor -- the hind side, back part
... 267, 268. achor. 269 . the hind side, back part. Transliteration: achor Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-khore') Short Definition: back. ... 267, 268. achor. 269 . ...
/hebrew/268.htm - 6k

5911. Akor -- "disturbance," a valley on the border of Judah
... 5910, 5911. Akor. 5912 . "disturbance," a valley on the border of Judah.
Transliteration: Akor Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kore') Short Definition: Achor. ... Achor. ...
/hebrew/5911.htm - 6k

322. achorannith -- backwards
... Word Origin prol. from achor Definition backwards NASB Word Usage back (2), back
again (1), backward (3), turned away (1). back ward, again. ...
/hebrew/322.htm - 6k

Library

The Valley of Achor
... HOSEA THE VALLEY OF ACHOR. 'I will give her ... the valley of Achor for a
door of hope.'"Hosea 2:15. The Prophet Hosea is remarkable ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the valley of achor.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... Achor the king, a man of giant stature, hurling darts before and behind as he sat
on horseback, I slew; for I hurled a stone of sixty pounds weight, and cast ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

The Fourth vision "On Earth"
... And we have like words in Hosea 2:14, 15, where we read that the valley of Achor
(which was the first place on the road from the wilderness to Canaan, Joshua 7 ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fourth vision on earth.htm

Receiving and Rejecting.
... how this man had sinned and incurred the anger of God, and he and all Israel carried
him and his family outside the camp unto the valley of Achor, "and all ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/xl receiving and rejecting.htm

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
... (6). Afflictions work for good, as they make way for comfort. "In the valley of
Achor is a door of hope" (Hosea 2:15) Achor signifies trouble. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/the worst things work for.htm

Restraining Prayer: is it Sin?
... Here stands at the very threshold of Israel's history in Canaan the heap of stones
in the valley of Achor, to tell us that God cannot bear sin, that God will ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter vi restraining prayer is.htm

The Omnipotent Summons.
... The star of Bethlehem shines, and the Valley of Achor becomes a door of hope.
The all-devouring destroyer has to relinquish his prey. ...
/.../macduff/memories of bethany/xvi the omnipotent summons.htm

"I Know, O Lord, that Thy Judgments are Right, and that Thou in ...
... And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for
a door of hope; and she shall sing there." " Hosea 2:14,15. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/waring/hymns and meditations/i know o lord that.htm

Christ is King of Israel, and Christians are the Israelitic Race.
... Elect and My servants shall possess the inheritance, and shall dwell there; and
there shall be folds of flocks in the thicket, and the valley of Achor shall be ...
/.../chapter cxxxv christ is king of.htm

Book 5 Footnotes
... Accordingly, this Valley of Achar, or Achor, was and is a known place, a little
north of Gilgal, so called from the days of Joshua till this day. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 5 footnotes.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Achor

trouble

ATS Bible Dictionary

Achor

Trouble, a valley north of Jericho; so called, perhaps, from the troubles occasioned by the sin of Achan, who was here put to death, Joshua 7:26. The prophets allude to it with promises of hope and joy in the gospel era, Isaiah 65:10; Hosea 2:15.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Trouble, a valley near Jericho, so called in consequence of the trouble which the sin of Achan caused Israel (Joshua 7:24, 26). The expression "valley of Achor" probably became proverbial for that which caused trouble, and when Isaiah (Isaiah 65:10) refers to it he uses it in this sense: "The valley of Achor, a place for herds to lie down in;" i.e., that which had been a source of calamity would become a source of blessing. Hosea also (Hosea 2:15) uses the expression in the same sense: "The valley of Achor for a door of hope;" i.e., trouble would be turned into joy, despair into hope. This valley has been identified with the Wady Kelt.

Thesaurus

Achor (5 Occurrences)
... The expression "valley of Achor" probably became proverbial for that which caused
trouble, and when Isaiah (Isaiah 65:10) refers to it he uses it in this sense ...
/a/achor.htm - 11k

Achan (7 Occurrences)
... It was then found that Achan was guilty, and he was stoned to death in the valley
of Achor. ... See ACHOR. Willis J. Beecher. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/a/achan.htm - 12k

Debir (12 Occurrences)
... Hebron. (2.) A place near the "valley of Achor" (Joshua 15:7), on the north
boundary of Judah, between Jerusalem and Jericho. (3 ...
/d/debir.htm - 16k

Mass (65 Occurrences)
... gold, and his sons and his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and
his tent and everything he had; and they took them up into the valley of Achor...
/m/mass.htm - 27k

Gilgal (39 Occurrences)
... 30). According to Joshua 15:7 it lay to the North of the valley of Achor,
which formed the border between Judah and Benjamin. Here ...
/g/gilgal.htm - 27k

Northward (41 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is ...
/n/northward.htm - 21k

Outgoings (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 and the border hath gone up towards Debir from the valley of Achor,
and northward looking unto Gilgal, which 'is' over-against the ascent of Adummim ...
/o/outgoings.htm - 12k

Jericho (59 Occurrences)
... In New Testament times Jericho stood some distance to the south-east of the
ancient one, and near the opening of the valley of Achor. ...
/j/jericho.htm - 38k

Gorge (19 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward,
looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is ...
/g/gorge.htm - 12k

Grass-land (9 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 65:10 And Sharon will be a grass-land for the flocks, and the valley of Achor
a resting-place for the herds: for my people whose hearts have been turned ...
/g/grass-land.htm - 9k

Bible Concordance

Achor (5 Occurrences)

Joshua 7:24 Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his cattle, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 7:26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Yahweh turned from the fierceness of his anger. Therefore the name of that place was called "The valley of Achor" to this day.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joshua 15:7 The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 65:10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 2:15 I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she will respond there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Achor

Achor: A Valley Near Jericho

Related Terms

Achan (7 Occurrences)

Debir (12 Occurrences)

Mass (65 Occurrences)

Gilgal (39 Occurrences)

Northward (41 Occurrences)

Outgoings (21 Occurrences)

Jericho (59 Occurrences)

Gorge (19 Occurrences)