Greek word · G5031

ταχινός

tachinos

quick

(1) Swift, quick in motion or happening suddenly. (2) Coming soon, imminent. Both senses are found in Hellenistic Greek.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ταχινός, -ή, -όν

[in LXX: Proverbs 1:16, Habakkuk 1:6, Isaiah 59:7 (מָהַר), Wisdom of Solomon 13:2, Sirach 11:22 18:26 * ;]

poët. and late for ταχύς, swift: of swift approach, 2 Peter 1:14 2:1.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Peter 1:14

Range of meaning

(1) Swift, quick in motion or happening suddenly. (2) Coming soon, imminent. Both senses are found in Hellenistic Greek.

Against the English

KJV 'shortly', BSB 'soon', YLT 'soon' and NASB 'imminent' take sense (2). WEB 'comes swiftly' leaves room for sense (1). The Latin Vulgate's velox ('swift') takes sense (1).

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: Isa 59:7, 'swift (ταχινοί) to shed blood'; Wisd 13:2, 'swift air'; Sir 18:26, 'all things are quick/fleeting before the Lord'. In 2 Pet 2:1 the same letter speaks of false teachers bringing 'swift (ταχινήν) destruction' on themselves, where either sense works.

Where it appears

2 Peter · 2

  1. 2 Peter 1:14 ταχινή imminent

    because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

    Here: An adjective placed first in its clause for emphasis. It can mean 'coming soon' (imminent) or 'swift, sudden' (quick when it happens). Most here take 'soon', but a sudden, violent death may also be in view.

  2. 2 Peter 2:1 ταχινὴν imminent

    Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

    Here: Coming quickly or suddenly. Compare 2:3, 'their destruction is not asleep'. The same word appears in 1:14 for Peter's own approaching death.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.