Topical Encyclopedia
The term "rapid" is not directly found in the Bible; however, the concept of speed, swiftness, and quickness is present throughout the Scriptures. These ideas are often used metaphorically to describe the actions of God, the movement of time, or the urgency of human response to divine commands.
Divine Action and SwiftnessThe Bible frequently portrays God as acting swiftly to accomplish His purposes. In
Isaiah 5:26, it is written, "He lifts a banner for the distant nations, He whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold, they come swiftly and speedily." This passage illustrates the rapid response of nations to God's call, emphasizing His sovereign control over the events of the world.
Similarly, in the context of judgment, God’s actions are described as quick and decisive. In
Zephaniah 1:14, the prophet declares, "The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter; the shouting of the warrior there." This verse underscores the immediacy and inevitability of divine judgment.
Human Response and UrgencyThe Bible also emphasizes the need for humans to respond rapidly to God's commands and opportunities for repentance. In the New Testament, Jesus often speaks of the urgency of the Kingdom of God. In
Mark 1:15, Jesus proclaims, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." The use of "at hand" suggests immediacy, urging a swift response to the message of salvation.
The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in
2 Corinthians 6:2, where he writes, "For He says, 'In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!" Paul emphasizes the present moment as the opportune time for salvation, encouraging believers to act without delay.
Metaphors of Speed in ScriptureThe Bible uses various metaphors of speed to convey spiritual truths. In
Habakkuk 1:8, the Chaldeans are described as having horses "swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk." This vivid imagery highlights the rapid and unstoppable nature of their advance, serving as a warning of impending judgment.
In the Psalms, the brevity of human life is often compared to fleeting moments.
Psalm 39:5 states, "Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Truly, each man at his best exists as but a breath." This metaphor of speed underscores the transient nature of life and the importance of living with an eternal perspective.
ConclusionWhile the word "rapid" itself may not appear in the biblical text, the themes of speed and urgency are woven throughout Scripture. They serve as reminders of God's swift action in the world, the necessity of prompt human response to His call, and the fleeting nature of life. These concepts encourage believers to live with vigilance and readiness, always prepared for the unfolding of God's divine plan.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Very swift or quick; fast; as, a rapid stream; a rapid flight; a rapid motion.
2. (a.) Advancing with haste or speed; speedy in progression; in quick sequence; as, rapid growth; rapid improvement; rapid recurrence; rapid succession.
3. (a.) Quick in execution; as, a rapid penman.
4. (n.) The part of a river where the current moves with great swiftness, but without actual waterfall or cascade; -- usually in the plural; as, the Lachine rapids in the St. Lawrence.
Greek
4493. rhipe -- any rapid movement, spec. a twinkling (of lights or ... ... 4492, 4493. rhipe. 4494 . any
rapid movement, spec. a twinkling
... rapid movement.
Word Origin from rhipto Definition any
rapid movement, spec.
... 3730. horme -- a rapid motion forwards, onrush, assault
... a rapid motion forwards, onrush, assault. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: horme Phonetic Spelling: (hor-may') Short Definition: a rush, violent ...
3691. oxus -- sharp, swift
... sharp, swift. Probably akin to the base of akmen ("acid"); keen; by analogy, rapid --
sharp, swift. see GREEK akmen. (oxeia) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
Strong's Hebrew
7692. Shiggayon -- perhaps a wild passionate song with rapid ...... perhaps a wild passionate song with
rapid changes of rhythm. Transliteration: Shiggayon
or Shiggayonah Phonetic Spelling: (shig-gaw-yone') Short Definition
... 5483. cuwc -- a swallow, swift (type of bird)
... Or cuc {soos}; from an unused root meaning to skip (properly, for joy); a horse
(as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) -- crane, horse((-back ...
697. arbeh -- (a kind of) locust
... grasshopper, locust. From rabah; a locust (from its rapid increase) -- grasshopper,
locust. see HEBREW rabah. 696, 697. arbeh. 698 . Strong's Numbers.
7034. qalah -- to be lightly esteemed or dishonored
... A primitive root; to be light (as implied in rapid motion), but figuratively, only
(be (causatively, hold) in contempt) -- base, contemn, despise, lightly ...
6554. Parpar -- a river near Damascus
... Pharpar. Probably from parar in the sense of rushing; rapid; Parpar, a river of
Syria -- Pharpar. see HEBREW parar. 6553, 6554. Parpar. 6555 . Strong's Numbers
639. aph -- a nostril, nose, face, anger
... From 'anaph; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a
person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire -- anger(-gry), + before ...
1772. dayyah -- perhaps a kite (a bird of prey)
... vulture. Intensive from da'ah; a falcon (from its rapid flight) -- vulture. see
HEBREW da'ah. 1771, 1772. dayyah. 1773 . Strong's Numbers.
3753. kirkarah -- dromedary
... swift beast. From karar; a dromedary (from its rapid motion as if dancing) -- swift
beast. see HEBREW karar. 3752, 3753. kirkarah. 3754 . Strong's Numbers.
4944. mashshaq -- a running, rushing
... running to and fro. From shaqaq; a traversing, ie Rapid motion -- running to and
fro. see HEBREW shaqaq. 4943, 4944. mashshaq. 4945 . Strong's Numbers.
7031. qal -- light, swift, fleet
... light, swiftly. Contracted from qalal; light; (by implication) rapid (also adverbial) --
light, swift(-ly). see HEBREW qalal. 7030, 7031. qal. 7032 . ...
Library
Rapid Promotion of John to the Bishopric, and More Vehement ...
... Book VIII. Chapter III."Rapid Promotion of John to the Bishopric, and more
Vehement Grappling with its Affairs. He re-establishes ...
The Project of French Empire and Evangelization --Its Wide and ...
... A HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY. CHAPTER III. THE PROJECT OF FRENCH EMPIRE AND
EVANGELIZATION"ITS WIDE AND RAPID SUCCESS"ITS SUDDEN EXTINCTION. ...
The Shaking of the Heavens and the Earth.
... They talk of this age as one of change; of rapid progress, for good or evil; of
unexpected discoveries; of revolutions, intellectual, moral, social, as well as ...
If any one Wishes to Hear the Arrangements for My Journey from ...
... I stood for a while on the shore of Scylla, and heard the old stories of the rapid
voyage of the versatile Ulysses, of the songs of the sirens and the ...
The Patient Teacher, and the Slow Scholars
... Gospels, with the exception of Gethsemane, where our Lord's words seem to indicate
such agitation of the windless sea of His spirit as this rapid succession of ...
The River of Life
... must come from below the Temple threshold. II. Note the rapid increase of
the stream. The Prophet describes how his companion, the ...
Galilee
... marked at some times than at others, and the differentiation of the various religions
depends chiefly on the recognition of these moments of more rapid change. ...
The Observations Contained in the Preceding ChapterMake it ...
... The most important requisites are rapid thinking, and ready command of
language. By rapid thinking I mean, what has already been ...
From the Fall to the Flood.
... The great age of those who lived in this period may have been a provision of nature
for the promotion of a rapid increase of the race and for the advancement ...
Constantinople
... The tall chariot of the Pr??torian Pr??fect, who stood highest among the illustrious,'
awaited them, and in this they were driven at a rapid pace to the ...
Thesaurus
Rapid (1 Occurrence)... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Very swift or quick; fast; as, a
rapid stream; a
rapid flight; a
rapid motion. 2. (a.) Advancing
...Shoot (51 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To send out or forth, especially with a rapid or sudden motion; to cast
with the hand; to hurl; to discharge; to emit. ... (n.) A rush of water; a rapid. ...
Roll (57 Occurrences)
... rollers or small wheels. 8. (n.) To beat with rapid, continuous strokes,
as a drum; to sound a roll upon. 9. (n.) To apply (one ...
Rapidly (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a rapid manner. Multi-Version Concordance
Rapidly (7 Occurrences). Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that ...
Ulai (2 Occurrences)
... 95 miles the depression which here exists as far as the foothills of Luristan, reaching
the Susian plain as a torrent; but it becomes less rapid before losing ...
Whirl (5 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A turning with rapidity or velocity; rapid rotation or circumvolution; quick
gyration; rapid or confusing motion; as, the whirl of a top; the whirl of ...
Fast (157 Occurrences)
... (v.) Tenacious; retentive. 11. (v.) Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound.
12. (v.) Moving rapidly; quick in motion; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse. 13. ...
Torrent (49 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Fig.: A violent or rapid flow; a strong current; a flood; as, a torrent
of vices; a torrent of eloquence. 3. (n.) Rolling or rushing in a rapid stream. ...
Rattle (2 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To scold; to rail at. 8. (n.) A rapid succession of sharp, clattering
sounds; as, the rattle of a drum. 9. (n.) Noisy, rapid talk. 10. ...
Race (36 Occurrences)
... disposition. 8. (n.) A progress; a course; a movement or progression. 9.
(n.) Esp., swift progress; rapid course; a running. 10. ...
Resources
Does the Bible say that an increase in technology is a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the theory of punctuated equilibrium? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about stuttering? | GotQuestions.orgRapid: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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