מְהֵרָה (me.he.rah)
me.he.rah
haste
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew word meherah conveys the idea of speed or haste. It functions primarily as an adverb meaning "quickly" or "speedily," describing actions that happen without delay. In the Old Testament, it appears seventeen times, with significant usage in Joshua, II Samuel, and Psalms to mark moments requiring immediate response.
Its root relates to running or moving fast, emphasizing physical swiftness rather than just mental urgency. The sources note it is often used with prepositions to mean "in haste," highlighting the manner of an action. For instance, in Joshua 2:5, the spies are told to flee quickly, illustrating its practical use for urgent escape or movement.
Translators typically render meherah as "quickly," "hastily," or "speedily." This word captures the physical reality of rapid motion. It does not inherently carry moral judgment; one can act in haste out of fear, duty, or opportunity. The text simply records the speed of the event.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word meherah describes physical speed or haste, appearing seventeen times in the Old Testament. It captures moments where immediate action is necessary, whether for escape, rescue, or judgment. In Joshua 2:5, spies flee quickly to safety, showing how this word marks practical urgency rather than moral failure. The text simply records the swiftness of an event without judging the heart behind it.
For your faith, this reminds us that God meets us in urgent situations. Sometimes we face crises requiring quick decisions, and other times we wait for His timing. In Psalms 147:15, we see that God’s word runs swiftly, bringing help when needed most. This balance between human haste and divine speed offers comfort during anxious seasons.
When life moves fast, remember that God is not surprised by urgency. He understands the need for quick responses in emergencies. At the same time, His promises arrive with perfect timing, never too late and never out of order. Trust that He guides both your hurried steps and your patient waits.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- quickly16×
- <in>/ quickly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְהֵרָ֥ה2×
- מְהֵרָ֣ה2×
- מְהֵרָ֜ה2×
- מְהֵרָ֗ה2×
- מְהֵרָ֑ה2×
- מְהֵרָה֩1×
- מְהֵרָה֙1×
- מְהֵרָ֨ה1×
- מְהֵרָ֖ה1×
- מְהֵרָ֔ה1×
- מְ֝הֵרָ֗ה1×
- בִ/מְהֵרָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 17:16
Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’”
Hushai urges David to send a message quickly to warn him of Absalom's plot, highlighting life-saving urgency.
-
Psalms 147:15
He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
God’s commandment runs swiftly, showing that divine help arrives with speed when needed most.
-
Deuteronomy 11:17
and Yahweh’s anger be kindled against you, and he shut up the sky so that there is no rain, and the land doesn’t yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which Yahweh gives you.
The warning that Israel will perish quickly from the land if they disobey connects haste to serious consequences.