τάχος (tachos)
tachos
speed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun tachos conveys the concept of swiftness or speed, functioning primarily as an adverbial term to describe actions that happen quickly or soon. In the New Testament, it appears nine times across books such as Acts, Romans, and Revelation, often marking moments where divine intervention or human response occurs without delay.
Its usage ranges from physical haste, such as Peter’s rapid exit from prison in Acts 12:7, to theological urgency, like the promise that God will soon crush Satan under believers’ feet in Romans 16:20. The word carries a sense of immediacy, emphasizing that the events it describes are not distant possibilities but imminent realities requiring prompt attention.
Etymologically linked to verbs meaning to hurry, tachos reinforces the biblical theme of God’s timely action. Translators typically render it as "quickly," "speedily," or "soon," capturing the tension between waiting and fulfillment that characterizes much of New Testament eschatology.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tachos reminds us that God’s timing is not bound by our slow pace. When Scripture speaks of things happening quickly, it invites us to look beyond our immediate circumstances to the certainty of His promises. This urgency is not a call to panic, but an invitation to trust that what God has spoken will come to pass.
In moments of waiting, this concept offers comfort. Whether it is the promise of justice in Romans 16:20 or the warning in Revelation, the emphasis is on God’s faithfulness to act. We do not need to force outcomes; we simply need to remain alert and ready for His intervention.
Ultimately, tachos points to a God who is active and present. It encourages us to live with hope, knowing that the struggles of this age are temporary and that God’s purposes will be fulfilled without delay.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- speed.4×
- speed3×
- speed;1×
- [with] speed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τάχει.4×
- τάχει4×
- τάχει·1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
This verse highlights the theological urgency of God's final victory, assuring believers that Satan's defeat is an imminent reality rather than a distant hope.
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Revelation of John 1:1
This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,
Here, the term frames the entire book as an immediate revelation of events that must soon unfold, establishing the urgency for the early church readers.
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Luke 18:8
I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Jesus uses this concept to contrast God's swift justice with human impatience, challenging believers to maintain faith while awaiting divine intervention.