Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and General Understanding:In the biblical context, "speed" often refers to swiftness or quickness in action or movement. It can denote both physical speed and the urgency or promptness in carrying out tasks or commands. The concept of speed is frequently associated with diligence, readiness, and the immediacy of God's actions or the actions of His servants.
Biblical References and Themes:1.
Divine Speed and Intervention: God's ability to act swiftly is a recurring theme in Scripture. His interventions are often described as immediate and powerful. In
Isaiah 46:13, God declares, "I bring My righteousness near; it is not far off, and My salvation will not delay. I will grant salvation to Zion, My splendor to Israel." This verse highlights the promptness of God's deliverance and His readiness to act on behalf of His people.
2.
Human Response and Readiness: Believers are encouraged to be swift in their obedience and service to God.
Proverbs 6:6-8 advises, "Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food at harvest." This passage underscores the importance of diligence and promptness in fulfilling one's duties.
3.
Speed in Judgment and Justice: The Bible also speaks of the swift execution of justice. In
Ecclesiastes 8:11, it is written, "When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil." This verse suggests that prompt justice serves as a deterrent to wrongdoing and maintains moral order.
4.
Metaphorical Use of Speed: Speed is often used metaphorically to describe the urgency of spiritual matters. In
Hebrews 12:1, believers are exhorted to "run with endurance the race set out for us," implying a need for both speed and perseverance in the Christian life. The imagery of a race conveys the urgency and focus required in pursuing spiritual goals.
5.
Warnings Against Rashness: While speed is often portrayed positively, the Bible also warns against rashness and hasty decisions.
Proverbs 19:2 cautions, "Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark." This highlights the need for balance between speed and wisdom, ensuring that actions are both prompt and prudent.
6.
Christ's Return: The New Testament frequently speaks of the return of Christ with a sense of immediacy and speed.
Revelation 22:12 states, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done." This promise of Christ's swift return serves as a motivation for believers to live in readiness and anticipation.
Conclusion:The concept of speed in the Bible encompasses both the divine attribute of swift action and the human responsibility to act promptly and wisely. It serves as a reminder of the urgency of spiritual matters and the need for readiness in both service and anticipation of God's promises.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Prosperity in an undertaking; favorable issue; success.
2. (n.) The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of motion; dispatch; as, the speed a horse or a vessel.
3. (n.) One who, or that which, causes or promotes speed or success.
4. (n.) To go; to fare.
5. (n.) To experience in going; to have any condition, good or ill; to fare.
6. (n.) To fare well; to have success; to prosper.
7. (n.) To make haste; to move with celerity.
8. (n.) To be expedient.
9. (v. t.) To cause to be successful, or to prosper; hence, to aid; to favor.
10. (v. t.) To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
11. (v. t.) To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
12. (v. t.) To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin; to undo.
13. (v. t.) To wish success or god fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
Greek
5034. tachos --speed...speed. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: tachos Phonetic Spelling:
(takh'-os) Short Definition: quickness,
speed Definition: quickness,
speed...4710. spoude -- haste, diligence
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: spoude Phonetic Spelling:
(spoo-day') Short Definition: haste, diligence Definition: (a)speed, haste, (b...
5463. chairo -- to rejoice, be glad
... farewell, be glad, Godspeed, rejoice. A primary verb; to be "cheer"ful,
ie Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as...
4517. rhonnumi -- to strengthen, be strong
... Word Origin probably from rhoomai (to move withspeed) Definition to strengthen,
be strong NASB Word Usage farewell (1). farewell....
4704. spoudazo -- to make haste, hence to give diligence
... be eager, hasten. From spoude; to usespeed, ie To make effort, be prompt or earnest --
do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study....
4692. speudo -- to hasten, urge on
... Probably strengthened from pous; to "speed" ("study"), ie Urge on (diligently or
earnestly); by implication, to await eagerly -- (make, with) haste unto....
5033. tachista -- quickly; quick
... quickly; quick Neuter plural of the superlative of tachus (as adverb); most quickly,
ie (with hos prefixed) as soon as possible -- + with allspeed....
5613. hos -- as, like as, even as, when, since, as long as
... been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto),
since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with allspeed...
Strong's Hebrew
4120. meherah -- haste,speed... 4119, 4120. meherah. 4121 . haste,
speed. Transliteration: meherah Phonetic
Spelling: (meh-hay-raw') Short Definition: quickly.
...4116. mahar -- to hasten
... 1), hasty (1), hurried (10), hurriedly (2), hurry (8), immediately (1), impetuous
(1), impulsive (1), made haste (1), make haste (1), makespeed (1), prepare (1...
629. osparna -- thoroughly, with (all) diligence
... fast, forthwith, speedily. (Aramaic) of Persian derivation; diligently -- fast,
forthwith,speed(-ily). 628, 629. osparna. 630 . Strong's Numbers.
4793. merots -- a running, a race
... Word Origin from ruts Definition a running, a race NASB Word Usage race (1). race.
From ruwts; a run (the trial ofspeed) -- race. see HEBREW ruwts....
553. amets -- to be stout, strong, bold, alert
... of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden,
increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate,speed)....
5322. nets -- a blossom
... blossom, hawk From natsats; a flower (from its brilliancy); also a hawk (from it
flashingspeed); --blossom, hawk. see HEBREW natsats. 5321, 5322....
8443. toaphah -- eminence
... error, hinder. From ya'aph; (only in plural collective) weariness, ie (by implication)
toil (treasure so obtained) orspeed -- plenty, strength....
4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... occasion, out), get (hold upon), X have (here), be here, hit, be left, light
(up-)on, meet (with), X occasion serve, (be) present, ready,speed, suffice, take...
7136. qarah -- to encounter, meet, befall
... to impose timbers (for roof or floor) -- appoint, lay (make) beams, befall, bring,
come (to pass unto), floor, (hap) was, happen (unto), meet, send goodspeed....
Library
Ask, and Thy Prayer with Arrow'sSpeed
... FAITH AND PENITENCE XXIII Ask, and thy prayer with arrow'sspeed. 8,8,8,8. Ask,
and thy prayer with arrow'sspeed. Shall bear to God thy present need;...
The Missionary Angel.
... 1 Onwardspeed thy conquering flight; Angel, onwardspeed; Cast abroad thy radiant
light, Bid the shades recede; Tread the idols in the dust, Heathen fanes...
Of the Method of Continual Prayer.
... And so for keeping up continual recollection of God this pious formula is to be
ever set before you. "O God, makespeed to save me: O Lord, make haste to help...
M. Anonymous. The Angel of the Lord.
... M. Anonymous. The Angel of the Lord. 1 Onwardspeed thy conquering flight, Angel,
onwardspeed!... 2 Onwardspeed thy conquering flight, Angel, onward fly!...
A Strain of Sodom.
... As, whene'er. A turbid torrent rolls with wintry tide,. And rushes at onespeed
through countless streams.... 110 Destruction o'er the city." Lot withspeed....
For Travellers on the Voyage.
... Not a trace where we have been,. On wespeed to lands unseen! Sink thou deeply in
our mind,.... Whom yet darkest error binds!Speed, ohspeed us on, ye winds!...
Of Palladius the Courier.
... other parts of the world on missions from the emperor with equal celerity: so that
an eloquent man once said not unaptly, This man by hisspeed proves the vast...
Why Man is Destitute of Natural Weapons and Covering
... the boar, the tiger, the leopard, and all the like have natural power sufficient
for their safety: and the bull has his horn, the hare hisspeed, the deer his...
Reformation Hymnody
... And birds are with song awaking. Lord, lend us Thy counsel andspeed our days,.
The... somber. Lord, lend us Thy counsel andspeed our days,....
Absurd Interpretations of the Marcosians.
... John, the disciple of the Lord, has intensified their condemnation, when he desires
us not even to address to them the salutation of "good-speed;" for, says he...
Thesaurus
Speed (22 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) The act or state of moving swiftly; swiftness; velocity; rapidly; rate of
motion; dispatch; as, the
speed a horse or a vessel.
...Speed (22 Occurrences).
...Taskwork (14 Occurrences)
... to death with stones. And king Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. (ASV). 2 Chronicles 10:18...
Taskmaster (3 Occurrences)
... King Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.... King
Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem....
Race (36 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running. 10. (n.) Hence: The act or
process of running in competition; a contest ofspeed in any way, as in...
Express (13 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Intended for a particular purpose; relating to an express; sent on a particular
errand; dispatched with specialspeed; as, an express messenger or train...
Managed (3 Occurrences)
... King Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.... King
Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem....
Slip (22 Occurrences)
... of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the
water horizontally, or the difference between a vessel's actualspeed and the...
Rehobo'am (42 Occurrences)
... stones, so that he died. And king Rehoboam madespeed to get him up to his
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. (See RSV). 1 Kings 12:21...
Noah (55 Occurrences)
... Raleigh, who notes it had "a flat bottom, and was not raised in form of a ship,
with a sharpness forward, to cut the waves for the betterspeed"-a construction...
Ostrich (9 Occurrences)
... They would not bear the weight of the bird, but the habit of lifting and beating
them proved that this assisted in attainingspeed in running (compare Xen....
Resources
What is the definition of godspeed / god speed? | GotQuestions.orgIs speeding a sin? | GotQuestions.orgIs speeding a sin? | GotQuestions.orgSpeed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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