Lexical Summary mahir: Quick, skillful, prompt Original Word: מָהִיר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance diligent, hasty, ready Or mahir {maw-here'}; from mahar; quick; hence, skilful -- diligent, hasty, ready. see HEBREW mahar NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mahar Definition quick, prompt, ready, skilled NASB Translation prompt (1), ready (1), skilled (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מָהִיר adjective quick, prompt, ready, skilled; — ׳סוֺפֵר מ Psalm 45:2; Ezra 7:6; בִּמְלַאכְתּוֺ ׳אִישׁ מ Proverbs 22:29; construct מְהִר צֶדֶק Isaiah 16:5 prompt in justice. Topical Lexicon Core Emphases of the Word מָהִיר depicts one whose actions or abilities are marked by readiness, promptness, and practiced skill. It highlights a cultivated capacity to meet a task without delay or deficiency, whether intellectual, manual, judicial, or moral. Occurrences and Narrative Contexts • Ezra 7:6 casts Ezra as “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses,” whose preparedness qualified him as a reformer of post-exilic Judah; the word accents both his expert competence and his spiritual agility to respond to divine commission. Theological Significance 1. Stewardship of Gifts: מָהִיר demonstrates that aptitude is not innate brilliance alone but husbanded talent honed for God’s purposes (compare 1 Timothy 4:14-15). Ministry Applications • Teaching and Preaching: Like Ezra, ministers are to be literate, practiced, and ready scribes, able to expound Scripture accurately and speedily when need arises (2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 1:9). Christological and Eschatological Hints Psalm 45 and Isaiah 16 project the ultimate Skillful One—Christ—whose words “never fail” and whose reign will “hasten righteousness.” His earthly ministry modeled instant, flawless responsiveness to the Father (John 5:19), and His return will be “quickly” (Revelation 22:20), echoing the same theme of promptness. Counsel for Today Cultivate disciplined readiness: heart, mind, and hand prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). Seek the Spirit’s empowerment, marry it to rigorous practice, and step forward without procrastination. In so doing, believers embody מָהִיר, becoming instruments through which God swiftly advances His purposes in a waiting world. Forms and Transliterations וּמְהִ֥ר ומהר מָ֘הִ֤יר מָהִֽיר׃ מָהִיר֙ מהיר מהיר׃ mā·hîr maHir māhîr ū·mə·hir umeHir ūməhirLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 7:6 HEB: וְהֽוּא־ סֹפֵ֤ר מָהִיר֙ בְּתוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה NAS: and he was a scribe skilled in the law KJV: from Babylon; and he [was] a ready scribe INT: This scribe skilled the law of Moses Psalm 45:1 Proverbs 22:29 Isaiah 16:5 4 Occurrences |