Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of "running" is often used both literally and metaphorically, symbolizing various aspects of spiritual life, urgency, and divine mission. The act of running can denote physical movement, but it also frequently represents spiritual zeal, the pursuit of righteousness, and the urgency of spreading the Gospel.
Literal RunningIn the Old Testament, running is often depicted in the context of delivering messages or escaping danger. For instance, in
2 Samuel 18:23, Ahimaaz insists on running to bring King David news of Absalom's defeat, demonstrating the urgency and importance of his message: "He said, 'Come what may, I want to run.' So Joab said, 'Run!' Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite."
Running is also seen in the context of athletic competition, as in
1 Corinthians 9:24, where the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a race to describe the Christian life: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize."
Metaphorical RunningMetaphorically, running is used to describe the pursuit of spiritual goals and the urgency of the Christian mission. In
Hebrews 12:1, believers are encouraged to "run with endurance the race set out for us," emphasizing perseverance in the faith journey.
The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of running to convey the strength and renewal found in God: "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint" (
Isaiah 40:31). This passage highlights the divine empowerment that enables believers to continue their spiritual journey without faltering.
Running in the Context of Divine MissionThe urgency of spreading the Gospel is often likened to running. In
Psalm 147:15, the swiftness of God's command is likened to running: "He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs swiftly." This illustrates the rapid and effective spread of God's word.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul frequently uses the metaphor of running to describe his ministry and the spread of the Gospel. In
Galatians 2:2, he speaks of ensuring that he was "not running or had run in vain," reflecting his commitment to the truth of the Gospel and the effectiveness of his mission.
Running as a Symbol of Spiritual ZealRunning is also a symbol of spiritual zeal and eagerness to follow God's commands. In
Psalm 119:32, the psalmist declares, "I run in the path of Your commandments, for You have broadened my understanding." This reflects a heart eager to obey and pursue God's will with enthusiasm and dedication.
In summary, the concept of running in the Bible encompasses both physical and spiritual dimensions, symbolizing urgency, perseverance, divine mission, and spiritual zeal. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the Christian life, encouraging believers to pursue their faith with determination and vigor.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. p.) of Run.
2. (p. p.) of Run.
3. (v.) To move, proceed, advance, pass, go, come, etc., swiftly, smoothly, or with quick action; -- said of things animate or inanimate. Hence, to flow, glide, or roll onward, as a stream, a snake, a wagon, etc.; to move by quicker action than in walking, as a person, a horse, a dog.
4. (v.) To go swiftly; to pass at a swift pace; to hasten.
5. (v.) To flee, as from fear or danger.
6. (v.) To steal off; to depart secretly.
7. (v.) To contend in a race; hence, to enter into a contest; to become a candidate; as, to run for Congress.
8. (v.) To pass from one state or condition to another; to come into a certain condition; -- often with in or into; as, to run into evil practices; to run in debt.
9. (v.) To exert continuous activity; to proceed; as, to run through life; to run in a circle.
10. (v.) To pass or go quickly in thought or conversation; as, to run from one subject to another.
11. (v.) To discuss; to continue to think or speak about something; -- with on.
12. (v.) To make numerous drafts or demands for payment, as upon a bank; -- with on.
13. (v.) To creep, as serpents.
14. (v.) To flow, as a liquid; to ascend or descend; to course; as, rivers run to the sea; sap runs up in the spring; her blood ran cold.
15. (v.) To proceed along a surface; to extend; to spread.
16. (v.) To become fluid; to melt; to fuse.
17. (v.) To turn, as a wheel; to revolve on an axis or pivot; as, a wheel runs swiftly round.
18. (v.) To travel; to make progress; to be moved by mechanical means; to go; as, the steamboat runs regularly to Albany; the train runs to Chicago.
19. (v.) To extend; to reach; as, the road runs from Philadelphia to New York; the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.
20. (v.) To go back and forth from place to place; to ply; as, the stage runs between the hotel and the station.
21. (v.) To make progress; to proceed; to pass.
22. (v.) To continue in operation; to be kept in action or motion; as, this engine runs night and day; the mill runs six days in the week.
23. (v.) To have a course or direction; as, a line runs east and west.
24. (v.) To be in form thus, as a combination of words.
25. (v.) To be popularly known; to be generally received.
26. (v.) To have growth or development; as, boys and girls run up rapidly.
27. (v.) To tend, as to an effect or consequence; to incline.
28. (v.) To spread and blend together; to unite; as, colors run in washing.
29. (v.) To have a legal course; to be attached; to continue in force, effect, or operation; to follow; to go in company; as, certain covenants run with the land.
30. (v.) To continue without falling due; to hold good; as, a note has thirty days to run.
31. (v.) To discharge pus or other matter; as, an ulcer runs.
32. (v.) To be played on the stage a number of successive days or nights; as, the piece ran for six months.
33. (v.) To sail before the wind, in distinction from reaching or sailing closehauled; -- said of vessels.
34. (a.) Specifically, of a horse: To move rapidly in a gait in which each leg acts in turn as a propeller and a supporter, and in which for an instant all the limbs are gathered in the air under the body.
35. (v.) To move rapidly by springing steps so that there is an instant in each step when neither foot touches the ground; -- so distinguished from walking in athletic competition.
36. (v. t.) To cause to run (in the various senses of Run, v. i.); as, to run a horse; to run a stage; to run a machine; to run a rope through a block.
37. (v. i.) To pursue in thought; to carry in contemplation.
38. (v. i.) To cause to enter; to thrust; as, to run a sword into or through the body; to run a nail into the foot.
39. (v. i.) To drive or force; to cause, or permit, to be driven.
40. (v. i.) To fuse; to shape; to mold; to cast; as, to run bullets, and the like.
41. (v. i.) To cause to be drawn; to mark out; to indicate; to determine; as, to run a line.
42. (v. i.) To cause to pass, or evade, offical restrictions; to smuggle; -- said of contraband or dutiable goods.
43. (v. i.) To go through or accomplish by running; as, to run a race; to run a certain career.
44. (v. i.) To cause to stand as a candidate for office; to support for office; as, to run some one for Congress.
45. (v. i.) To encounter or incur, as a danger or risk; as, to run the risk of losing one's life. See To run the chances, below.
46. (v. i.) To put at hazard; to venture; to risk.
47. (v. i.) To discharge; to emit; to give forth copiously; to be bathed with; as, the pipe or faucet runs hot water.
48. (v. i.) To be charged with, or to contain much of, while flowing; as, the rivers ran blood.
49. (v. i.) To conduct; to manage; to carry on; as, to run a factory or a hotel.
50. (v. i.) To tease with sarcasms and ridicule.
51. (v. i.) To sew, as a seam, by passing the needle through material in a continuous line, generally taking a series of stitches on the needle at the same time.
52. (v. i.) To migrate or move in schools; -- said of fish; esp., to ascend a river in order to spawn.
53. (n.) The act of running; as, a long run; a good run; a quick run; to go on the run.
54. (n.) A small stream; a brook; a creek.
55. (n.) That which runs or flows in the course of a certain operation, or during a certain time; as, a run of must in wine making; the first run of sap in a maple orchard.
56. (n.) A course; a series; that which continues in a certain course or series; as, a run of good or bad luck.
57. (n.) State of being current; currency; popularity.
58. (n.) Continued repetition on the stage; -- said of a play; as, to have a run of a hundred successive nights.
59. (n.) A continuing urgent demand; especially, a pressure on a bank or treasury for payment of its notes.
60. (n.) A range or extent of ground for feeding stock; as, a sheep run.
61. (n.) The aftermost part of a vessel's hull where it narrows toward the stern, under the quarter.
62. (n.) The distance sailed by a ship; as, a good run; a run of fifty miles.
63. (n.) A voyage; as, a run to China.
64. (n.) A pleasure excursion; a trip.
65. (n.) The horizontal distance to which a drift may be carried, either by license of the proprietor of a mine or by the nature of the formation; also, the direction which a vein of ore or other substance takes.
66. (n.) A roulade, or series of running tones.
67. (n.) The greatest degree of swiftness in marching. It is executed upon the same principles as the double-quick, but with greater speed.
68. (n.) The act of migrating, or ascending a river to spawn; -- said of fish; also, an assemblage or school of fishes which migrate, or ascend a river for the purpose of spawning.
69. (n.) In baseball, a complete circuit of the bases made by a player, which enables him to score one; in cricket, a passing from one wicket to the other, by which one point is scored; as, a player made three runs; the side went out with two hundred runs.
70. (n.) A pair or set of millstones.
71. (a.) Melted, or made from molten material; cast in a mold; as, run butter; run iron or lead.
72. (a.) Smuggled; as, run goods.
Greek
4390. protrecho -- torun forward, ierun in advance... to
run forward, ie
run in advance. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: protrecho
Phonetic Spelling: (prot-rekh'-o) Short Definition: I outrun Definition: I
...5143. trecho -- torun
... torun. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: trecho Phonetic Spelling:
(trekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun, exercise myself Definition: Irun, exercise...
4936. suntrecho -- torun with
... torun with. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suntrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-trekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun with Definition: Irun (rush) together...
5295. hupotrecho -- torun in under
... torun in under. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: hupotrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(hoop-ot-rekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun under shelter of Definition: I...
1532. eistrecho -- torun in
... torun in. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eistrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(ice-trekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun in Definition: Irun in,run into....
2701. katatrecho -- torun down
... torun down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katatrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-at-rekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun down Definition: Irun down....
4370. prostrecho -- torun to
... torun to. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prostrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-trekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun to Definition: Irun to....
4063. peritrecho -- torun about
... torun about. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: peritrecho Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ee-trekh'-o) Short Definition: Irun around Definition: Irun around....
2113. euthudromeo -- torun a straight course
... torun a straight course. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euthudromeo Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-thoo-drom-eh'-o) Short Definition: Irun a straight course...
2027. epokello --run aground.
... 2026, 2027. epokello. 2028 .run aground. Part of Speech... a ship) aground.
Word Origin variant reading for epikello, qv.run aground....
Strong's Hebrew
7323. ruts -- torun... 7322, 7323. ruts. 7324 . to
run. Transliteration: ruts Phonetic Spelling:
(roots) Short Definition:
run. Word Origin a prim. root
...8264. shaqaq -- torun,run about, rush
... 8263, 8264. shaqaq. 8265 . torun,run about, rush. Transliteration: shaqaq
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kak') Short Definition: quenched. Word Origin a prim....
7519. ratsa -- torun
... ratsa. 7520 . torun. Transliteration: ratsa Phonetic Spelling: (raw-tsaw') Short
Definition: ran.... root Definition torun NASB Word Usage ran (1). accept,run....
7320b.run -- to overcome
... 7320a, 7320b.run. 7321 . to overcome. Transliteration:run Short Definition:
overcome. Word Origin a prim.... 7320a, 7320b.run. 7321 . Strong's Numbers.
7325. rur --run
... 7324, 7325. rur. 7326 .run. Transliteration: rur Phonetic Spelling:
(roor) Short Definition:run. Word Origin see rir.run...
5064. nagar -- to pour, flow,run
... to pour, flow,run. Transliteration: nagar Phonetic Spelling: (naw-gar') Short
Definition: down.... fall, flow away, pour down out,run, shed, spilt, trickle down....
3988b. maas -- to flow,run
... maas. 3989 . to flow,run. Transliteration: maas Short Definition: flow. Word
Origin a prim. root Definition to flow,run NASB Word Usage flow (1), runs (1)....
1865. deror -- a flowing, freerun, liberty
... 1864, 1865. deror. 1866 . a flowing, freerun, liberty. Transliteration:
deror Phonetic Spelling: (der-ore') Short Definition: release....
6805. tsaad -- to step, march
... root Definition to step, march NASB Word Usage gone (1), march (1), marched (3),
run (1), takes (1), walk (1). bring, go, march through,run over....
6379. pakah -- to trickle
... Word Origin perhaps denominative verb from pak Definition to trickle NASB Word Usage
trickling (1).run out. A primitive root; to pour --run out. 6378, 6379...
Library
And While the AgesRun,
... PENTECOST I And while the agesrun,. 6,6,8,6. Come, Holy Ghost, in might,.... In sympathy
benign. And while the agesrun,. Our praise shall rise to Thee;...
A QuickRun Round the World.
... The Need A QuickRun Round the World.... And with that, in this rapidrun through,
we may for convenience group Arabia and Persia and Afghanistan....
I WillRun in My Affections, to Him who Heals Freely
... Hymn VI. I willrun in my affections, to Him who heals freely. 1. I will
run in my affections, to Him who heals freely. He who healed...
Draw Me, we WillRun after Thee to the Odor of Thine Ointments.
... COMMENTARY. CHAPTER I. 3. Draw me, we willrun after thee to the odor
of thine ointments. This young lover prays the Bridegroom...
Septuagesima Sunday. I Therefore SoRun, not as Uncertainly; So...
... Septuagesima Sunday. I therefore sorun, not as uncertainly; so fight I,
not as one that beateth the air. I therefore sorun, not...
Then Shall the Holy AngelsRun on their Commission to Gather...
... Piece XXXVIII. Then shall the holy angelsrun on their commission to gather
together all the nations? Then shall the holy angels...
The Right toRun Things
... CHAPTER 11 The Right toRun Things. A new mission station opened!... He answered questions
about how such meetings wererun, but made no recommendation....
That the High and the Next Way to Heaven isRun by Desires, and...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE SIXTIETH CHAPTER That the high and the next way to heaven
isrun by desires, and not by paces of feet. That the...
Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles. 1 Jesus Shall Reign Where'er...
... 1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeysrun; His kingdom
stretch from shore to shore Till moons shall wax and wane no more....
Go on Therefore in Your Course, andRun with Perseverance...
... Section 28. Go on therefore in your course, andrun with perseverance? 28.
Go on therefore in your course, andrun with perseverance...
Thesaurus
Run (147 Occurrences)... 1. (pp) of
Run. 2. (pp) of
Run.
... 7. (v.) To contend in a race; hence, to enter
into a contest; to become a candidate; as, to
run for Congress.
...Jeshu'run (1 Occurrence)
Jeshu'run. Jesh'urun, Jeshu'run. Jesiah . Multi-Version Concordance
Jeshu'run (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 44:2 Thus saith...
Race (36 Occurrences)
... 15. (vi) Torun swiftly; to contend in a race; as, the animals raced over the ground;
the ships raced from port to port. 16.... 18. (vt) Torun a race with. Int....
Ahi'ma-az (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:19 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok: 'Let me nowrun, and bear the
king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.' (See RSV)....
Ahimaaz (15 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me nowrun, and bear the
king news, how that Yahweh has avenged him of his enemies." will not prevail...
Cushite (15 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, "But come what
may, please let me alsorun after the Cushite." Joab said, "Why do you want...
Cushy (5 Occurrences)
... (KJV). 2 Samuel 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But
howsoever, let me, I pray thee, alsorun after Cushy.... And he said unto him,Run....
Cushi (7 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 18:22 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, "But come what
may, please let me alsorun after the Cushite." Joab said, "Why do you want...
Aground (5 Occurrences)
... Fearing that they wouldrun aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered
the sea anchor, and so were driven along. (WEB DBY NAS NIV)....
Fro (54 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of Yahwehrun back and forth throughout the whole
earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect...
Resources
What does it mean to 'run the race set before us' (Hebrews 12:1)? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian run for political office? | GotQuestions.orgIn what ways is the Christian life like the Olympics? | GotQuestions.orgRun: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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