Greek word · G5034

τάχος

tachos

quickness

Tachos means speed or swiftness. The phrase en tachei works as an adverb: 'soon, shortly, without delay' (Acts 12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Rom 16:20; 1 Tim 3:14), or 'quickly, speedily' (Luke 18:8, where 'speedily' may be either).

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τάχος, -ους, τό

[in LXX chiefly for parts and derivatives of מָהַר ;]

swiftness, speed. Adverbially, ἐν τ. (ταχέως), quickly, speedily, soon: Luke 18:8, Acts 12:7 22:18 25:4, Romans 16:20, 1 Timothy 3:14, Revelation 1:1 22:6.†

(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 Revelation 1:1

Range of meaning

Tachos means speed or swiftness. The phrase en tachei works as an adverb: 'soon, shortly, without delay' (Acts 12:7; 22:18; 25:4; Rom 16:20; 1 Tim 3:14), or 'quickly, speedily' (Luke 18:8, where 'speedily' may be either).

Against the English

KJV 'shortly'; BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB, NLT and WEB 'soon'; YLT 'quickly'. 'Soon' is about when it happens; 'quickly' could also mean how fast things unfold once begun. Most uses in the New Testament are about timing.

Used elsewhere in the period

John is reworking Daniel 2:28 (Theodotion): 'what must happen at the end of the days' (ha dei genesthai ep' eschatōn tōn hēmerōn). Where Daniel has 'at the end of the days', John has 'soon'. Revelation keeps the time short throughout: 'the time is near' (1:3; 22:10), 'I am coming soon' (tachy, 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20), and 22:6 repeats this verse's phrase.

From the study of Romans 16:20

Range of meaning

'With speed'. In use it means either 'soon, shortly, before long' (Rev 1:1; 22:6; Acts 25:4) or 'quickly, at once, without delay' (Acts 12:7; 22:18). Luke 18:8 is debated in the same way.

Against the English

BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB have 'soon'. WEB and YLT have 'quickly'. KJV has 'shortly'. 'Soon' points to when it will happen; 'quickly' can point to how fast it happens.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG gives both senses. The same phrase appears in the opening and closing of Revelation for 'things that must soon take place'.

From the study of Revelation 22:6

Range of meaning

tachos: speed, quickness. The phrase en tachei works as an adverb meaning 'quickly, without delay' or 'soon, shortly' (BDAG). The two senses overlap: something done without delay is done soon.

Against the English

'Soon' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV, NLT, NASB), 'shortly' (KJV), 'quickly' (YLT). 'Shortly' in 1611 meant 'soon', as it still does. YLT's 'quickly' leaves room for a 'rapidly once it begins' reading.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 18:8 'he will vindicate them speedily (en tachei)'. Acts 12:7 'get up quickly'. Acts 22:18 'get out of Jerusalem quickly'. Acts 25:4 Festus 'intended to go there shortly'. Romans 16:20 'God will soon (en tachei) crush Satan under your feet'. Revelation 1:1 has the same phrase. The related adverb tachy recurs in 22:7, 12, 20 ('I am coming soon').

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 18:8 τάχει. speed.

    I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

    Here: 'With speed.' It could mean 'soon' (not long from now) or 'swiftly, without hesitation once he acts.' Either way it answers the worry about delay in v.7.

Acts · 3

  1. Acts 12:7 τάχει. speed.

    Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

    Here: 'In haste.' There is no time to lose. It echoes the haste of the first Passover night (Exodus 12:11), and this too is Passover week.

  2. Acts 22:18 τάχει speed

    and saw the Lord saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem quickly, because the people here will not accept your testimony about Me.’

    Here: "Quickly, without delay." Coming after "hurry," it doubles the urgency: hurry, and be fast about it.

  3. Acts 25:4 τάχει speed

    But Festus replied, “Paul is being held in Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon.

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 16:20 τάχει. speed.

    The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

    Here: 'In speed' can mean 'soon' (before long) or 'swiftly' (fast when it comes). In this setting Paul most likely means 'soon'.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 3:14 τάχει· speed;

    Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things

Revelation · 2

  1. Revelation 1:1 τάχει speed

    This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

    Here: 'In quickness': in New Testament use it most often means 'soon, without delay'. Some read it as 'swiftly, suddenly' (see debates).

  2. Revelation 22:6 τάχει. speed.

    Then the angel said to me, “These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent His angel to show His servants what must soon take place.”

    Here: 'In speed', meaning soon, shortly, without delay. Daniel put the fulfilment 'in the last days'. Revelation says it is 'soon', and Jesus' next words are 'I am coming soon' (22:7).

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