Lexical Summary merutsah: course, running Original Word: מְרוּצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance course, running Or mrutsah {mer-oo-tsaw'}; feminine of merowts; a race (the act), whether the manner or the progress -- course, running. Compare mrutsah. see HEBREW merowts see HEBREW mrutsah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ruts Definition a running, course NASB Translation course (2), running (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [מְרוּצָה] noun feminine 1. running. 2 course (of life): — 1 running, mode, style, of running, construct מְרוּצַת 2 Samuel 18:27, מְרֻצַת 2 Samuel 18:27. 2 course (of life), suffix מְרוּצָתָם Jeremiah 8:6 (Qr; > Kt plural מרצותם), Jeremiah 23:10. — II.מְרוּצָה Jeremiah 22:17 see below רצץ. Topical Lexicon Usage in Narrative and Prophetic Literature 2 Samuel 18:27 (twice) places מְרוּצָה in the tense moments after Absalom’s defeat. A gate-top watchman identifies “the running of Ahimaaz” and deduces that he bears good news. Thus the term describes distinctive, purposeful motion tied to character and message. Jeremiah 8:6 and 23:10 shift the word from literal speed to moral trajectory: “Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle” and “their course is evil.” Here מְרוּצָה depicts a headlong rush into sin, underscoring deliberate, energetic rebellion. Historical Setting Royal couriers were indispensable in the ancient Near East. Their endurance and recognizable gait allowed kings to anticipate the nature of their dispatch. Jeremiah adapts this cultural reality: the same energetic haste once reserved for loyal service now marks Judah’s breakneck plunge into covenant violation. Textual Nuances Scripture moves from concrete to abstract: the visible sprint of a messenger (2 Samuel) becomes the invisible but no less real momentum of a nation’s heart (Jeremiah). The identical word binds the narratives, illustrating the unity of physical and spiritual realities in biblical thought. Theological Themes • Swiftness of Communication: Good news travels rapidly; the Gospel requires heralds who “run” with integrity (compare Isaiah 52:7). Ministry Significance – Preachers must emulate Ahimaaz: recognizable integrity married to a trustworthy message. – Shepherds should monitor the “course” of their flock, arresting destructive speed through timely counsel. – Disciples examine whether their energy is Spirit-directed or self-directed, aligning with “the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). – Intercessors plead for cultures sprinting toward ruin, asking God to redirect their momentum toward righteousness. Summary מְרוּצָה spans the spectrum from the faithful courier’s stride to the reckless charge of apostasy. It reminds every believer that motion is inevitable but direction is crucial. The Church is called to run with the good news of the victorious Son of David, urging all who are racing the wrong way to return before the watchman announces the King’s final arrival. Forms and Transliterations בִּמְר֣וּצָתָ֔ם במרוצתם כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת כמרצת מְרֽוּצָתָם֙ מְרוּצַ֣ת מרוצת מרוצתם bim·rū·ṣā·ṯām bimrūṣāṯām bimRutzaTam kim·ru·ṣaṯ kimruṣaṯ kimruTzat mə·rū·ṣā·ṯām mə·rū·ṣaṯ mərūṣaṯ mərūṣāṯām meruTzat merutzaTamLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 18:27 HEB: רֹאֶה֙ אֶת־ מְרוּצַ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֔וֹן כִּמְרֻצַ֖ת NAS: I think the running of the first one KJV: Me thinketh the running of the foremost INT: I think the running of the first the running 2 Samuel 18:27 Jeremiah 8:6 Jeremiah 23:10 4 Occurrences |
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