מַהֵר
𐤌𐤄𐤓
mahêr
H4118 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adverb describing action performed with swiftness, implying little or no delay; denotes immediacy or urgency in the completion of an action. Used to modify verbs to indicate that something is done quickly, speedily, or without hesitation. In some contexts, carries the nuance of being done unexpectedly or suddenly.
Semantic Range
quickly, speedily, with haste, hastily, at once, suddenly, without delay
Root / Etymology
מַהֵר derives from the root מהר, meaning 'to hasten' or 'to be quick.' The adverb form is constructed either as an emphatic or an instrumental usage of the root idea ('with haste, quickly').
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַהֵר is typically found as an adverbial modifier across narrative and poetic texts. In early Israelite and monarchic Hebrew, it reflects both the call for prompt action (as in directives or imperatives) and narrative description of swift events. Its use continues consistently across the Hebrew Bible without significant theological or historical narrowing; it is largely functional, not technical or specialized. The close synonym חָפַז ('to hurry, be impetuous') may carry an added sense of agitation; מַהֵר is more neutral, focusing on speed rather than emotional impulse. Most later translations as 'suddenly,' 'quickly,' or 'hastily' capture the meaning, but the adverb does not, in and of itself, convey recklessness or emotional connotation unless context supplies it. In poetry, it may pair with other urgency terms for emphasis.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from מָהַר; properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in ahurry; hasteth, hastily, at once, quickly, soon, speedily, suddenly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מהר (m-h-r) — to hasten, to be quick, to hurry
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4106 | מָהִיר | quick, ready |
| H4116 | מָהַר | as making haste |
| H4117 | מָהַר | to hasten |
| H4119 | מֹהַר | with bride-price |
| H4120 | מְהֵרָה | haste |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4118-01 |
מַהֵ֗ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! | 17 |
H4118-02 |
וּ/מַהֵ֣ר | umaher | HC/Aamsa |
and hastens | and in haste | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
18 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4118-01 |
Exodus 32:8 | מַהֵ֗ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 4:26 | מַהֵר֒ | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 7:4 | מַהֵֽר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 7:22 | מַהֵ֔ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 9:3 | מַהֵ֔ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 9:12 | מַהֵר֙ | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 9:12 | מַהֵ֗ר | maher-2 | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 9:16 | מַהֵ֔ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:20 | מַהֵ֔ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |
H4118-01 |
Joshua 2:5 | מַהֵ֛ר | maher | HVpa |
quickly | Hurry! |