Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of "slow" can be understood in various dimensions, including God's attributes, human behavior, and spiritual growth. The term often conveys a sense of deliberate action, patience, and restraint, which are valued virtues in the Christian faith.
God's Patience and LongsufferingOne of the most significant aspects of "slow" in the Bible is God's patience and longsuffering. The Lord is described as "slow to anger" in several passages, highlighting His merciful and compassionate nature. In
Exodus 34:6, God reveals Himself to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth." This characteristic of God is reiterated in
Psalm 103:8 and
Psalm 145:8, emphasizing His willingness to withhold immediate judgment and offer opportunities for repentance.
The New Testament also reflects this attribute of God. In
2 Peter 3:9, it is written, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Here, God's slowness is portrayed as an expression of His desire for all to attain salvation.
Human Behavior and WisdomIn human conduct, being "slow" is often associated with wisdom and self-control.
Proverbs 14:29 states, "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly." This proverb underscores the value of being deliberate and measured in one's reactions, contrasting it with the foolishness of hasty anger.
James 1:19 further advises believers, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." This counsel encourages Christians to exercise patience and restraint, fostering an environment conducive to understanding and harmony.
Spiritual Growth and MaturityThe concept of being "slow" also applies to spiritual growth and maturity. The process of sanctification is often gradual, requiring patience and perseverance.
Hebrews 5:11-14 addresses the issue of spiritual sluggishness, urging believers to progress from milk to solid food in their understanding and practice of faith. The passage warns against being "slow to learn" and encourages maturity through constant practice and discernment.
ConclusionIn summary, the biblical notion of "slow" encompasses God's merciful patience, the wisdom of measured human behavior, and the gradual process of spiritual growth. These aspects collectively highlight the virtue of patience and the importance of deliberate, thoughtful action in the life of a believer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v.) imp. of to slay; Slew.
2. (superl.) Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.
3. (superl.) Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.
4. (superl.) Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.
5. (superl.) Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.
6. (superl.) Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.
7. (superl.) Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.
8. (superl.) Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull.
9. (adv.) Slowly.
10. (v. t.) To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer.
11. (v. i.) To go slower; -- often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.
12. (n.) A moth.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SLOWslo: Chiefly for 'erekh, literally, "long," in the phrase "slow to anger" (Nehemiah 9:17, etc.). InExodus 4:10Luke 24:25James 1:19, for kabhedh; bradus, both meaning "heavy," "sluggish," while Sirach 7:35 uses "be slow" for okneo, "hesitate." In addition, the King James Version uses. "slow" for argos, "inactive," in The Wisdom of Solomon 15:15, "slow to go" (the Revised Version (British and American) "helpless for walking"), and inTitus 1:12, "slow bellies" (the Revised Version (British and American) "idle gluttons"). In Sirach 51:24, the King James Version has "be slow" for hustereo, "be lacking" (so the Revised Version (British and American)).
Greek
1021. bradus --slow...slow. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: bradus Phonetic Spelling:
(brad-ooce') Short Definition:
slow Definition:
slow,
slow of understanding.
...1019. braduno -- to retard, to beslow
... to retard, to beslow. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: braduno Phonetic Spelling:
(brad-oo'-no) Short Definition: I amslow, I delay Definition: I amslow...
988. blasphemia -- slander
... Cognate: 988 (from , "sluggish/slow," and 5345 , "reputation, fame") -- - literally,
slow (sluggish) to call something (that ) -- andslow to identify what is...
3635. okneo -- to shrink (from doing), to hesitate (to do)
... to hesitate (to do). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: okneo Phonetic Spelling:
(ok-neh'-o) Short Definition: I delay, hesitate, amslow Definition: I delay...
692. argos -- inactive, idle
... barren, idle,slow. From a (as a negative particle) and ergon; inactive, ie Unemployed;
(by implication) lazy, useless -- barren, idle,slow. see GREEK a....
987. blasphemeo -- to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely...
... 987 (from , "sluggish,slow" and 5345 , "reputation, fame") -- properly, to acknowledge
good (worthy of respect, veneration); hence, to which moral values....
4236. praotes -- meekness.
... 4236 ("strength in gentleness") avoids unnecessary harshness, yet without
compromising or being tooslow to use necessary force....
Strong's Hebrew
750. arek -- long... 749, 750. arek. 751 . long. Transliteration: arek Phonetic Spelling: (aw-rake')
Short Definition:
slow.
... longsuffering patient,
slow to anger.
...3515. kabed -- heavy
... 2), great (4), grievous (1), heavier (1), heavy (11), huge (1), large (4), large
number (1), much (1), numerous (1), rich (1), severe (7),slow (2), sorrowful...
7958. selav -- quail
... quails. Or slayv {sel-awv'}; by orthographical variation from shalah through the
idea of sluggishness; the quail collectively (asslow in flight from its weight...
6113. atsar -- to restrain, retain
... prevail (1), prevented (1), recover (1), refrain (1), restrained (1), restrains
(1), restricted (2), retain (2), retained (2), rule (1), shut (7),slow down (1...
1677. dob -- a bear
... bear. Or (fully) dowb {dobe}; from dabab; the bear (asslow) -- bear. see HEBREW
dabab. 1676, 1677. dob or dob. 1678 . Strong's Numbers.
748. arak -- to be long
... Usage continue (1), delay (1), endure* (1), endures (1), lengthen (3), lengthened
(1), lingered (2), live (2), long (5), long* (3), makes himslow (1), prolong...
Library
The Patient Teacher, and theSlow Scholars
... THE PATIENT TEACHER, AND THESLOW SCHOLARS.... Let us look at these questions as suggesting
to us two things"the grieved Teacher and theslow scholars....
Third and Fourth Appearances of Jesus.
... The last clause unconsciously suggests the omitted fact that the women had professed
to see Christ.] 25 And he said unto them, O foolish men, andslow of heart...
The Right to a Normal Home Life
... and although his facility in the use of the spoken language developed, the progress
he made in the book work required by the course of study was extremelyslow...
The Call of Moses
... God never yet used a man of that stamp. Perhaps Moses was aslow scholar in
God's school, and so He had to keep him there for forty years....
Paul at Philippi
... by observation.' Let me say a word, and only a word, based on this incident, about
the law of small beginnings and the law ofslow, inconspicuous development....
What Can be More Distinct than this Statement? what could Possibly...
... his words fortified by the strongest assertions and by the most abundant testimonies
of Scripture, is it not evident even to us who are soslow of understanding...
Beside the Still Waters.
... Those changes have manifestly been so great and so universal, as to stand out in
vivid contrast to the imperceptiblyslow, the gently gradual processes, which...
The Assumption of Moses
... I amslow of speech, and of aslow tongue.' And again he saith: I am as smoke from
the pottery.'" [102] The last clause is deemed by Hilgenfeld to be cited...
James i. 19-21
... Against this he warns them in the words: "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every
man be swift to hear,slow to speak,slow to wrath." One extreme must be...
Chapter xvii.
... he has not said, by God; but has said, "God is witness." It is ridiculous to think
so; yet because of the contentious, or those veryslow of apprehension, lest...
Thesaurus
Slow (43 Occurrences)... 2. (superl.) Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick
in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a
slow stream; a
slow motion.
...Compassionate (22 Occurrences)
... Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger, and abundant
in loving kindness and truth, (See NAS NIV). Deuteronomy...
Abounding (28 Occurrences)
... Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger, and abundant
in loving kindness and truth, (See NAS RSV NIV). Numbers...
Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... literally, "long of nose" (or "breathing"), and, as anger was indicated by rapid,
violent breathing through the nostrils, "long of anger," or "slow to wrath...
Plenteous (16 Occurrences)
... Numbers 14:18 Jehovah isslow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving
iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty...
Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... Joel 2:13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your
God; for he is gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and abundant in...
Merciful (53 Occurrences)
... with forgiveness (Exodus 34:7 Numbers 14:18 1 Timothy 1:13, 16); (c) with His
forbearance (Psalm 145:8, "Yahweh is gracious and merciful,slow to anger and of...
Quick (49 Occurrences)
... 3. (superl.) Speedy; hasty; swift; notslow; as, be quick.... Romans 12:11 Be notslow
in your work, but be quick in spirit, as the Lord's servants; (BBE)....
Slowly (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In aslow manner; moderately; not rapidly; not
early; not rashly; not ready; tardily. Multi-Version Concordance...
Patient (34 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is notslow concerning his promise, as some count slowness;
but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all...
Resources
What does it mean that we should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19)? | GotQuestions.orgHow and when should we overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the theory of punctuated equilibrium? | GotQuestions.orgSlow: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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