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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מַהֵר H4118
Pronunciation mahēr
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 It quickly 5× Deuteronomy 9:16, Joshua 2:5, Psalms 79:8, Psalms 102:2
all at once 1× Deuteronomy 7:22
and coming 1× Zephaniah 1:14
and He will swiftly 1× Deuteronomy 7:4
and quickly 1× Deuteronomy 28:20
at once 1× Deuteronomy 9:12
hastily 1× Proverbs 25:8
How quickly 1× Deuteronomy 9:12
How quickly they have 1× Exodus 32:8
immediately 1× Judges 2:23
swiftly 1× Deuteronomy 9:3
They quickly 1× Judges 2:17
you will quickly 1× Deuteronomy 4:26
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 32:8 מַהֵ֗ר to How quickly they have Adverb Deuteronomy 4:26 מַהֵר֒ to you will quickly Adverb Deuteronomy 7:4 מַהֵֽר׃ to and He will swiftly Adverb Deuteronomy 7:22 מַהֵ֔ר to all at once Adverb Deuteronomy 9:3 מַהֵ֔ר to swiftly Adverb Deuteronomy 9:12 מַהֵר֙ to at once Adverb Deuteronomy 9:12 מַהֵ֗ר to How quickly Adverb Deuteronomy 9:16 מַהֵ֔ר to quickly Adverb Deuteronomy 28:20 מַהֵ֔ר to and quickly Adverb Joshua 2:5 מַהֵ֛ר to quickly Adverb
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 32:8
Aligned rows 17
Books represented 7
Exodus 1 Deuteronomy 8 Joshua 1 Judges 2 Psalms 3 Proverbs 1 Zephaniah 1
Source forms
מַהֵ֔ר 4x ma·hêr Deuteronomy 7:22, Deuteronomy 9:3, Deuteronomy 9:16, Deuteronomy 28:20
מַהֵ֗ר 3x ma·hêr Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 9:12, Judges 2:17
וּמַהֵ֣ר 1x ū·ma·hêr Zephaniah 1:14
מַהֵר֒ 1x ma·hêr Deuteronomy 4:26
מַהֵר֙ 1x ma·hêr Deuteronomy 9:12
מַהֵ֛ר 1x ma·hêr Joshua 2:5
מַהֵ֑ר 1x ma·hêr Judges 2:23
מַ֭הֵר 1x ma·hêr Psalms 79:8
Parsing patterns
Adverb 13x Exodus 32:8, Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 7:4, Deuteronomy 7:22
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular 3x Psalms 79:8, Psalms 102:2, Psalms 143:7
Conjunctive waw | Adverb 1x Zephaniah 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 definition Source: 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 groups 1 Aligned forms 17
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 17×
Infinitive absolute Deut 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 25:8 13×
Sequential imperfect Ps 69:18 · Ps 79:8 · Ps 102:3 · Ps 143:7 4×
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain