### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼâthâh**, represented by `{{H857}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to arrive** or **to come**. It appears 21 times across 20 unique verses in the Bible. While its core definition points to arrival, its usage extends to describe the coming of future events, divine appearances, and the arrival of both people and consequences.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H857}}` is used in several significant contexts. It is frequently found in prophetic passages where God's unique ability to declare "the things that are to come" is highlighted ([[Isaiah 41:23]], [[Isaiah 45:11]]). The word also depicts a powerful divine arrival, as when the LORD "came with ten thousands of saints" from Mount Paran [[Deuteronomy 33:2]]. On a personal level, it can express a response of repentance, as when the children of Israel declare, "Behold, we come unto thee" [[Jeremiah 3:22]], or the arrival of dreaded circumstances, as when Job laments that what he feared has "come upon" him [[Job 3:25]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a broader context for the concept of coming and arriving:
* `{{H935}}` **bôwʼ** (to go or come): This word is often used interchangeably or in parallel with `{{H857}}`. For instance, in describing the establishment of the kingdom, it is said that dominion "shall it come" `{{H857}}` and the kingdom "shall come" `{{H935}}` [[Micah 4:8]].
* `{{H3212}}` **yâlak** (to walk; come): This term often implies coming or going as a part of a process or journey. It is used as a command to "come ye, assemble" before the command is repeated with `{{H857}}` to "come to devour" [[Jeremiah 12:9]].
* `{{H1980}}` **hâlak** (to walk; come, go): This word is used to describe the progression of life and time. Job contrasts the coming `{{H857}}` of his final years with the fact that he will soon "go" `{{H1980}}` on a journey from which he will not return [[Job 16:22]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H857}}` is significant, particularly in relation to God's sovereignty and interaction with humanity.
* **Prophetic Certainty:** The concept of "things to come" is a major theme. God challenges false gods to prove their divinity by showing "the things that are to come hereafter" [[Isaiah 41:23]], establishing His omniscience and control over the future.
* **Divine Manifestation:** The word describes God's arrival in glory and judgment. The Lord's coming from Sinai is a powerful theophany that establishes his authority and the giving of his law [[Deuteronomy 33:2]].
* **Inevitable Outcomes:** `{{H857}}` is used to convey the unavoidable arrival of consequences, whether it is destruction coming "as a whirlwind" [[Proverbs 1:27]] or the fulfillment of a promised kingdom [[Micah 4:8]].
* **Human Approach:** The word captures humanity's movement toward a destination or a state of being, from the inhabitants of Tema who "brought" `{{H857}}` water to the thirsty [[Isaiah 21:14]] to the backsliding children who "come" to God for healing [[Jeremiah 3:22]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H857}}` transcends a simple definition of arrival. It is a dynamic term used to articulate prophetic truth, the powerful manifestation of God, the certainty of future events, and the responsive movement of humanity. From the majestic coming of the Lord with His saints to the personal arrival of long-feared suffering, **ʼâthâh** illustrates how the concept of "coming" is deeply woven into the fabric of divine revelation and human experience.
TRV