This adverb appears in Hebrews 12:17, where the author notes that Esau 'afterward' sought the blessing with tears but was rejected, finding no opportunity for repentance though he sought it earnestly. The word indicates temporal sequence — what came after the initial action. Esau's story warns against profanity and treating sacred things lightly. He despised his birthright for momentary gratification, then later desperately wanted the blessing he had forfeited. The temporal gap between casual dismissal and anguished regret illustrates how present choices create future consequences that cannot always be reversed, even with tears.