Original Word: ταχέως
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: tacheós
Pronunciation: tah-KHEH-os
Phonetic Spelling: (takh-eh'-oce)
KJV: hastily, quickly, shortly, soon, suddenly
NASB: quickly, shortly, soon, hastily, once
Word Origin: [adverb from G5036 (ταχύς - soon)]

1. briefly
2. (in time) speedily
3. (in manner) rapidly

hastily, quickly, shortly

Adverb from tachus; briefly, i.e. (in time) speedily, or (in manner) rapidly -- hastily, quickly, shortly, soon, suddenly.

see GREEK tachus

Cognate: 5030 taxéōs (an adverb) – swiftly (quickly, forthwith); speedily, to the extent conditions make appropriate; promptly, defined by the particular situation. See 5035 (taxy).

Word Origin
adverb from tachus
Definition
quickly, hastily
NASB Translation
hastily (1), once (1), quickly (4), shortly (2), soon (2).

Overview of Urgency in Biblical Narrative

Strong’s Greek 5030 marks moments when action must not be delayed. Whether issuing a command, describing a response, or warning against precipitous behavior, the term injects an atmosphere of immediacy. Scripture employs it to stir servants, disciples, church leaders, and entire congregations to prompt obedience or sober restraint.

Occurrences in the Gospels

Luke twice records the word on the lips of Jesus:

• Luke 14:21 – In the Parable of the Great Banquet the master orders, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city”. The adverb accentuates the lavish grace of God that presses servants to gather the marginalized without hesitation.

• Luke 16:6 – The dishonest manager tells a debtor, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.” The haste exposes worldly shrewdness, standing in sharp contrast to the righteous readiness Jesus commends in His disciples (Luke 16:8).

John 11:31 notes that when Mary rose “quickly” to meet Jesus, the mourners believed she was headed to the tomb. The evangelist underscores the intensity of grief and expectation that surrounded the Lord’s approach to Lazarus’s grave, an intensity resolved by the revelation of Christ’s life-giving authority.

Apostolic Appeals to Timely Action

Paul uses the term both positively and negatively:

• 1 Corinthians 4:19 – “I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing.” Confidence in providence tempers apostolic resolve, marrying urgency with submission.

• Philippians 2:19; 2:24 – Twice Paul promises to dispatch Timothy “soon,” modeling pastoral concern and the value of personal presence in strengthening congregations.

• 2 Timothy 4:9 – “Make every effort to come to me quickly.” Near the end of his life Paul longs for companionship, reminding readers that faithful service does not erase legitimate human need.

Warnings Against Rashness

Speed can also be perilous:

• Galatians 1:6 – “I am amazed how quickly you are turning away from the One who called you by the grace of Christ.” Here haste reveals instability, urging believers to weigh teachings carefully lest they desert the gospel.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:2 – Paul implores that the church “not be quickly shaken…by a spirit or a word or a letter” asserting the day of the Lord had come. Eschatological speculations must submit to apostolic doctrine.

• 1 Timothy 5:22 – “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands.” The church must avoid swift ordinations that overlook character and calling, protecting both the body and the candidate from shared guilt.

Theological Reflections

1. Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsiveness

Scripture pairs human haste with the overarching will of God (“if the Lord is willing,” 1 Corinthians 4:19). Urgency never overrides divine timing; it recognizes God’s freedom even while pressing forward in obedience.

2. Grace Initiates, Obedience Accelerates

The banquet master’s command follows a prepared feast. Grace provides; servants hurry. Redemption precedes discipleship, yet genuine faith manifests in prompt compliance.

3. Discernment Governs Speed

While some matters require swift action, others demand deliberation. The same adverb that exhorts quick outreach condemns quick apostasy. Wisdom lies in distinguishing Spirit-led urgency from flesh-driven impulse.

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

• Evangelism: The banquet scene sanctions immediate engagement with society’s forgotten. Churches should deploy resources without procrastination when gospel doors open.

• Leadership Development: Timothy’s delayed ordination of elders illustrates patient assessment. Rushing the process risks scandal and doctrinal drift.

• Personal Ministry: Like Paul, believers can voice urgent personal needs without shame, fostering authentic community.

• Doctrinal Stability: Congregations must test every new teaching, refusing to be “quickly shaken” by sensational claims.

Conclusion

Strong’s 5030 weaves urgency into the New Testament fabric, directing readers to act swiftly when grace demands, yet to restrain haste when faithfulness requires reflection. Properly discerned, this balance cultivates churches that are both energetic in mission and anchored in truth.

ταχεως ταχέως tacheos tacheōs tachéos tachéōsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts