What does מַהֵר (mahēr) mean in the Bible?
מַהֵר (mahēr): Expresses urgency and immediacy; often signals decisive divine action or human obedience without delay.
Hebrew · H4118
מַהֵר
Properly, hurrying ; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
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מַהֵרH4118
Pronunciationmahēr
What does מַהֵר (mahēr) mean in the Bible?
מַהֵר (mahēr): Expresses urgency and immediacy; often signals decisive divine action or human obedience without delay.
Full entry for מַהֵר (H4118) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4118?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include quickly (5), all at once (1), and coming (1), and He will swiftly (1), and quickly (1).
Where does מַהֵר (mahēr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 32:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (8), Psalms (3), Judges (2), Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itquickly5×Deuteronomy 9:16, Joshua 2:5, Psalms 79:8, Psalms 102:2
all at once1×Deuteronomy 7:22
and coming1×Zephaniah 1:14
and He will swiftly1×Deuteronomy 7:4
and quickly1×Deuteronomy 28:20
at once1×Deuteronomy 9:12
hastily1×Proverbs 25:8
How quickly1×Deuteronomy 9:12
How quickly they have1×Exodus 32:8
immediately1×Judges 2:23
swiftly1×Deuteronomy 9:3
They quickly1×Judges 2:17
you will quickly1×Deuteronomy 4:26
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:8מַהֵ֗רtoHow quickly they haveAdverbDeuteronomy 4:26מַהֵר֒toyou will quicklyAdverbDeuteronomy 7:4מַהֵֽר׃toand He will swiftlyAdverbDeuteronomy 7:22מַהֵ֔רtoall at onceAdverbDeuteronomy 9:3מַהֵ֔רtoswiftlyAdverbDeuteronomy 9:12מַהֵר֙toat onceAdverbDeuteronomy 9:12מַהֵ֗רtoHow quicklyAdverbDeuteronomy 9:16מַהֵ֔רtoquicklyAdverbDeuteronomy 28:20מַהֵ֔רtoand quicklyAdverbJoshua 2:5מַהֵ֛רtoquicklyAdverb
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 32:8
Aligned rows17
Books represented7
Exodus1Deuteronomy8Joshua1Judges2Psalms3Proverbs1Zephaniah1
Source forms
מַהֵ֔ר4xma·hêrDeuteronomy 7:22, Deuteronomy 9:3, Deuteronomy 9:16, Deuteronomy 28:20
מַהֵ֗ר3xma·hêrExodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:12, Judges 2:17
וּמַהֵ֣ר1xū·ma·hêrZephaniah 1:14
מַהֵר֒1xma·hêrDeuteronomy 4:26
מַהֵר֙1xma·hêrDeuteronomy 9:12
מַהֵ֛ר1xma·hêrJoshua 2:5
מַהֵ֑ר1xma·hêrJudges 2:23
מַ֭הֵר1xma·hêrPsalms 79:8
Parsing patterns
Adverb13xExodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 7:4, Deuteronomy 7:22
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular3xPsalms 79:8, Psalms 102:2, Psalms 143:7
Conjunctive waw | Adverb1xZephaniah 1:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Expresses urgency and immediacy; often signals decisive divine action or human obedience without delay.
Source Gloss
properly, hurrying ; hence (adverbially) in a hurry
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Expresses urgency and immediacy; often signals decisive divine action or human obedience without delay.
properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in a hurry BDB: quickly Usage: hasteth, hastily, at once, quickly, soon, speedily, suddenly.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms17
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action17×
Infinitive absoluteDeut 4:26 · Deut 7:4 · Deut 7:22 · Deut 9:3 · Deut 9:12 · Deut 9:16 · Deut 28:20 · Exod 32:8 · Josh 2:5 · Judg 2:17 · Judg 2:23 · Prov 25:813×
Sequential imperfectPs 69:18 · Ps 79:8 · Ps 102:3 · Ps 143:74×
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.