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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "swift" in the Bible often refers to speed or quickness, whether in movement, action, or judgment. It is used both literally and metaphorically throughout the Scriptures to convey urgency, decisiveness, and the rapid execution of events or actions.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "swift" is frequently used to describe the speed of animals, people, or divine actions. For example, in 2 Samuel 1:23, Saul and Jonathan are described as being "swifter than eagles," highlighting their prowess and agility in battle. Similarly, in Habakkuk 1:8, the Chaldeans' horses are described as "swifter than leopards," emphasizing the rapid and fearsome nature of their military campaigns.

The swiftness of divine judgment is also a recurring theme. In Isaiah 5:26, God is depicted as summoning nations with a "whistle" and they come "swiftly and speedily," illustrating the promptness of His sovereign will in executing judgment.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of swiftness is often associated with the return of Christ and the urgency of repentance. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus declares, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done." The swiftness of His coming serves as a call to readiness and vigilance for believers.

Metaphorical and Symbolic Uses

The metaphorical use of "swift" can also be seen in the context of human behavior and morality. In Proverbs 6:18, a "heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to evil" is listed among the things the Lord hates. This passage underscores the eagerness and haste with which some pursue sinful actions, contrasting with the righteous path that requires patience and deliberation.

Theological Implications

The swiftness of God's actions, whether in judgment or deliverance, serves as a reminder of His omnipotence and the certainty of His promises. Believers are encouraged to live in a state of readiness, understanding that God's timing is perfect and His actions are executed with precision and purpose.

Practical Application

For Christians, the concept of swiftness can be applied to the urgency of spreading the Gospel and living a life that reflects Christ's teachings. Just as God's actions are swift and decisive, believers are called to be prompt in obedience and diligent in their spiritual walk, making the most of every opportunity to serve and witness to others.

In summary, the term "swift" in the Bible conveys a sense of urgency and immediacy, whether in the context of divine action, human behavior, or the anticipated return of Christ. It serves as a powerful reminder of the need for readiness and the importance of aligning one's life with God's will.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. i.) Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.

2. (v. i.) of short continuance; passing away quickly.

3. (adv.) Swiftly.

4. (n.) The current of a stream.

5. (n.) Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidae. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.

6. (n.) Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.

7. (n.) The ghost moth. See under Ghost.

8. (n.) A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.

9. (n.) The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SWIFT BEASTS

(kirkaroth (Isaiah 66:20)): the King James Version and the English Revised Version "swift beasts," the English Revised Version margin and the American Standard Revised Version "dromedaries." In Micah 1:13 (rekhesh) a horse is meant, the Revised Version (British and American) "swift steed."

See CAMEL; HORSE.

SWIFT

See SWALLOW.

Greek

5031. tachinos -- swift
... swift. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tachinos Phonetic Spelling:
(takh-ee-nos') Short Definition: swift, quick Definition: swift, quick, impending. ...

3691. oxus -- sharp, swift
... sharp, swift. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oxus Phonetic Spelling:
(oz-oos') Short Definition: sharp, swift, eager Definition: (a) sharp, (b) swift ...

5036. tachus -- quick, swift
... quick, swift. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: tachus Phonetic Spelling:
(takh-oos') Short Definition: quick, swift Definition: quick, swift, speedy ...

4932. suntemno -- to cut in pieces
... pieces. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: suntemno Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-tem'-no) Short Definition: I cut short, bring to swift accomplishment Definition ...

4704. spoudazo -- to make haste, hence to give diligence
... Cognate: 4704 -- properly, be swift (go fast, be ); (figuratively) to move speedily
by showing ( applying oneself); acting ( commitment) to accomplish all that ...

Strong's Hebrew

7031. qal -- light, swift, fleet
... 7030, 7031. qal. 7032 . light, swift, fleet. Transliteration: qal Phonetic
Spelling: (kal) Short Definition: swift. Word Origin ...

7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling
... 7042, 7043. qalal. 7044 . to be slight, swift or trifling. Transliteration:
qalal Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-lal') Short Definition: cursed. Word Origin a prim ...

4118a. maher -- hastening, speedy, swift
... 4118, 4118a. maher. 4118b . hastening, speedy, swift. Transliteration: maher
Short Definition: swift. Word Origin from mahar Definition ...

4122. Maher Shalal Chash Baz -- "swift (is) booty, speedy (is) ...
Maher Shalal Chash Baz. 4121, 4122. Maher Shalal Chash Baz. 4123 . "swift
(is) booty, speedy (is) prey," symbolic name of Isaiah's son. Transliteration: Maher ...

5483a. sus -- a swallow, swift (type of bird)
sus or sus. 5483, 5483a. sus or sus. 5483b . a swallow, swift (type of
bird). Transliteration: sus or sus Short Definition: swallow. ...

5483. cuwc -- a swallow, swift (type of bird)
... 5482b, 5483. cuwc. 5483a . a swallow, swift (type of bird). Transliteration:
cuwc Phonetic Spelling: (soos) Short Definition: crane. crane, horseback, ...

4118. maher -- hastening, speedy, swift
... 4117, 4118. maher. 4118a . hastening, speedy, swift. Transliteration: maher
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-hare') Short Definition: hasteth. ...

7409. rekesh -- steeds
... Word Origin perhaps from rakash Definition steeds NASB Word Usage horses (1),
steeds (2), swift steeds (1). dromedary, mule, swift beast. ...

4116. mahar -- to hasten
... impetuous (1), impulsive (1), made haste (1), make haste (1), make speed (1), prepare
(1), quickly (16), quickly thwarted (1), rapidly (1), soon (2), swift (3 ...

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.

Library

The Swift Destroyer
... GENESIS THE SWIFT DESTROYER. 'And when the morning arose, then the angels
hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two ...

In a Swift Current.
... The Coming Victory In a Swift Current. The momentum of the present missionary
movement has been startling. It suggests that we are ...

Time How Swift.
... I. SEASONS NEW-YEAR'S HYMNS. Hymn 1 Time how swift. John Newton 7,7,7,7. Time how
swift. While with ceaseless course the sun. Hasted through the former year,. ...

The Swift Decay of Love
... THE BOOK OF EXODUS THE SWIFT DECAY OF LOVE. 'And Moses turned, and went
down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony ...

Swift Healing and Immediate Service
... ST. MATTHEW Chaps. I to VIII SWIFT HEALING AND IMMEDIATE SERVICE. 'And
when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's ...

A Righteousness Near and a Swift Salvation
... A RIGHTEOUSNESS NEAR AND A SWIFT SALVATION. 'Hearken unto Me, ye
stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near My ...

Ep. Cv. The Time is Swift, the Struggle Great, and My Sickness ...
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. CV. The time is swift, the struggle
great, and my sickness severer? The time is swift ...

Three Sermons, Three Prayers
... <. Three Sermons, Three Prayers Jonathan Swift. Title Page. THREE SERMONS
AND PRAYERS BY JONATHAN SWIFT. [ Prev] [Top] [Next ]. ...

Three Sermons, Three Prayers
Three Sermons, Three Prayers. <. ...

Contents: on Mutual Subjection on Sleeping in Church on the Wisdom ...
Three Sermons, Three Prayers. <. ...

Thesaurus

Swift (35 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. SWIFT BEASTS. ...SWIFT. See SWALLOW. Multi-Version Concordance ...

Swift-footed (1 Occurrence)
Swift-footed. Swifter, Swift-footed. Swiftly . Multi-Version
Concordance Swift-footed (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel 2:18 ...

Swallow (38 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) Hebrews sis (Isaiah 38:14; Jeremiah 8:7), the Arabic
for the swift, which "is a regular migrant, returning in myriads every ...

Treading (26 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 18:2 that sendest ambassadors over the sea, and in vessels of papyrus upon
the waters, saying, Go, swift messengers, to a nation scattered and ravaged ...

Beast (243 Occurrences)
... grazing animals (Exodus 22:5; Numbers 20:4, 8, 11; Psalm 78:48); of beasts of burden
(Genesis 45:17); of eatable beasts (Proverbs 9:2); and of swift beasts or ...

Beasts (241 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia SWIFT BEASTS. (kirkaroth (Isaiah 66:20)):
the King James Version and the English Revised Version ...

Steeds (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 4:28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they
to the place where the officers were, every man according to his duty. ...

Swifter (6 Occurrences)

Swiftly (15 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a swift manner; with quick motion or velocity;
fleetly. Multi-Version Concordance Swiftly (15 Occurrences). ...

Leviathan (5 Occurrences)
... 74:14). As used in Isaiah 27:1, "leviathan the piercing [RV `swift'] serpent,
even leviathan that crooked [RV marg. `winding'] serpent ...

Resources

Who was John Wycliffe? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the angel Gabriel? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God makes our feet like the feet of a deer (Habakkuk 3:19)? | GotQuestions.org

Swift: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Swift (35 Occurrences)

Romans 3:15
"Their feet are swift to shed blood.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 1:19
So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:49
The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
(KJV WBS RSV)

2 Samuel 2:18
And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was swift of foot, as one of the gazelles that are in the field.
(DBY NAS RSV)

1 Kings 4:28
Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they to the place where the officers were, every man according to his duty.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

1 Chronicles 12:8
Of the Gadites there separated themselves to David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes on the mountains;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 8:10
He wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by courier on horseback, riding on royal horses that were bread from swift steeds.
(WEB JPS ASV RSV)

Esther 8:14
So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king's service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.
(See JPS ASV RSV)

Job 9:26
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Job 24:18
He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Job 26:13
By his Spirit the heavens are garnished. His hand has pierced the swift serpent.
(WEB ASV)

Job 39:5
"Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Proverbs 1:16
For their feet are running after evil, and they are quick to take a man's life.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 6:18
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Ecclesiastes 9:11
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 5:26
He will lift up a banner to the nations from far, and he will whistle for them from the end of the earth. Behold, they will come speedily and swiftly.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 8:1
And the Lord said to me, Take a great writing-board, and on it put down in common letters, Maher-shalal-hash-baz;
(See NAS)

Isaiah 16:5
A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.
(WEB ASV RSV)

Isaiah 18:2
that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, "Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 19:1
The burden of Egypt: "Behold, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 30:16
but you said, "No, for we will flee on horses;" therefore you will flee; and, "We will ride on the swift;" therefore those who pursue you will be swift.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 38:14
I make cries like a bird; I give out sounds of grief like a dove: my eyes are looking up with desire; O Lord, I am crushed, take up my cause.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet go quickly to evil, and they take delight in the death of the upright; their thoughts are thoughts of sin; wasting and destruction are in their ways.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 66:20
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.
(KJV JPS WBS)

Jeremiah 2:23
How can you say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals? see your way in the valley, know what you have done: you are a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 8:7
Truly, the stork in the heavens is conscious of her fixed times; the dove and the swallow and the crane keep to the times of their coming; but my people have no knowledge of the law of the Lord.
(See NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 46:6
Don't let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 30:9
In that day shall messengers go forth from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid; and there shall be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt; for, behold, it comes.
(See RSV)

Daniel 9:21
yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Amos 2:14
Flight will perish from the swift; and the strong won't strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Amos 2:15
neither shall he stand who handles the bow; and he who is swift of foot won't escape; neither shall he who rides the horse deliver himself;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Micah 1:13
Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; For the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Habakkuk 1:8
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Malachi 3:5
I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Subtopics

Swift

Swift Beasts

Related Terms

Swift-footed (1 Occurrence)

Swallow (38 Occurrences)

Treading (26 Occurrences)

Beast (243 Occurrences)

Beasts (241 Occurrences)

Steeds (11 Occurrences)

Swifter (6 Occurrences)

Swiftly (15 Occurrences)