Swiftness, often associated with speed and agility, is a concept that appears in various contexts throughout the Bible. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe the rapidity of God's actions, the fleeting nature of life, or the quickness of judgment and destruction. In the biblical narrative, swiftness can be both a positive attribute and a warning of impending doom.

Divine Swiftness

The Bible often attributes swiftness to God, emphasizing His ability to act quickly and decisively. In Isaiah 5:26, the prophet speaks of God's power to summon nations swiftly: "He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold, they come swiftly and speedily." This passage highlights God's sovereign control over the nations and His ability to execute His plans without delay.

Similarly, in Habakkuk 1:8, the swiftness of the Chaldeans is described as part of God's judgment: "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their horsemen charge ahead; their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour." Here, swiftness is a tool in the hands of God to bring about His purposes, demonstrating His power and authority over creation.

Human Swiftness

In human terms, swiftness is often associated with physical prowess and the ability to respond quickly to situations. In 2 Samuel 2:18, Asahel, the brother of Joab, is described as "as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle." This attribute is indicative of his skill and agility in battle, a valued trait in the context of ancient warfare.

However, the Bible also warns against relying solely on human swiftness. In Ecclesiastes 9:11, Solomon observes, "I saw something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all." This verse serves as a reminder that human abilities, including swiftness, are ultimately subject to God's will and the unpredictability of life.

Swiftness as a Metaphor for Life's Transience

Swiftness is also used metaphorically to describe the fleeting nature of life. In Job 9:25-26, Job laments, "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey." This imagery captures the brevity and elusiveness of human existence, urging readers to reflect on the temporal nature of life and the importance of seeking eternal truths.

Swiftness in Judgment and Destruction

The Bible frequently uses swiftness to describe the suddenness of divine judgment and destruction. In Zephaniah 1:14, the prophet declares, "The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter; the shouting of the warrior there." This passage underscores the urgency and inevitability of God's judgment, calling people to repentance and readiness.

In the New Testament, the theme of swiftness continues with the return of Christ. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done." The swiftness of Christ's return serves as both a promise and a warning, encouraging believers to live in anticipation of His coming.

In summary, swiftness in the Bible is a multifaceted concept that illustrates God's power, the limitations of human ability, the transience of life, and the urgency of divine judgment. It serves as a reminder of the need for reliance on God and readiness for His actions in the world.(n.) The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness; celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness of a stream; swiftness of descent in a falling body; swiftness of thought, etc.5034. tachos -- speed
... immediately. Cognate: 5034 -- swiftness (speed), ie done as quickly (speedily)
as is appropriate to the particular situation. See 5035 (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5034.htm - 6k

5143. trecho -- to run
... 5143 () was used of "runners in a race, of swiftness or of effort to attain
an end (so Herodotus, Eur., etc.)" (). Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5143.htm - 8k

4710. spoude -- haste, diligence
... 4710 (from 4692 , "move quickly, speed on") -- properly, swiftness to
show , ie one's "best" (full effort by making haste). For ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4710.htm - 7k

6431. Peleth -- two Israelites
... NASB Word Usage Peleth (2). Peleth. From an unused root meaning to flee; swiftness;
Peleth, the name of two Israelites -- Peleth. 6430, 6431. Peleth. 6432 ...
/hebrew/6431.htm - 5k

The Comforter
... It is the swiftness of the dove, and not its fancied gentleness that is
spoken of. The dove appearing, as you may see it again and ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xiv the comforter.htm

Of the Production of the Beasts and of Man.
... so that they may either oppose the stronger animals with natural weapons, or the
feebler ones may withdraw themselves from danger by the swiftness of their ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap ii of the production of.htm

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Other than in the Old.
... The swiftness of a thought exceeds that of electricity. In a word, the limitations
of the material world seem to disappear in the realm of spirits. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxv the holy spirit in.htm

Why Man is Destitute of Natural Weapons and Covering
... For if man had had such power as to be able to outrun the horse in swiftness, and
to have a foot that, from its solidity, could not be worn out, but was ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/vii why man is destitute.htm

What the Same Apostle Taught in the First Epistle to the ...
... in this passage by the apostle and those who were alive with him, shall never die
at all, or shall pass with incomprehensible swiftness through death to ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 20 what the same apostle.htm

Psalm XLV.
... But how swiftly soever the transcriber writes, still it is not comparable to that
swiftness of which another Psalm says, "His word runneth very swiftly." [1388 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlv.htm

The General Deliverance
... It is probable, that he had a far higher degree both of swiftness and strength,
than any of his posterity ever had, and much less any of the lower creatures. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 60 the general deliverance.htm

Marvellous Increase of the Church
... But, secondly, the Chaldee has the idea in it, not of numbers, but of swiftness.
"Who are these that fly as a cloud," for swiftness? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/marvellous increase of the church.htm

Psalm CXLVII.
... "Who sendeth forth His Word to the earth;" and to earth His Word came. How? or what
is His Word? "Even unto swiftness His Word runneth." He said not, "His Word ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlvii.htm

Psalm LX.
... in a contrary direction to that in which it is going to be shot; and the more the
stretching thereof hath gone backward, with the greater swiftness it starteth ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lx.htm

Swiftness (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or state of being swift; speed; quickness;
celerity; velocity; rapidity; as, the swiftness of a bird; the swiftness...
/s/swiftness.htm - 7k

Ass (95 Occurrences)
... 5:21, noted for its swiftness; and (2) that called pe're, the wild ass of Asia
(Job 39:6-8; 6:5; 11:12; Isaiah 32:14; Jeremiah 2:24; 14:6, etc.). ...
/a/ass.htm - 48k

Leopard (6 Occurrences)
... Its fierceness (Isaiah 11:6), its watching for its prey (Jeremiah 5:6), its swiftness
(Habakkuk 1:8), and the spots of its skin (Jeremiah 13:23), are noticed. ...
/l/leopard.htm - 13k

Reem (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Reem (5 Occurrences). Numbers 23:22 God is bringing them
out from Egypt, As the swiftness of a Reem is to him; (YLT). ...
/r/reem.htm - 7k

Peleth (2 Occurrences)
...Swiftness. ... pe'-leth (peleth, "swiftness"): (1) Father of On, one of the rebels against
Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1); probably same as PALLU (which see). ...
/p/peleth.htm - 7k

Swallow (38 Occurrences)
... (2.) Hebrews deror, ie, "the bird of freedom" (Psalm 84:3; Proverbs 26:2), properly
rendered swallow, distinguished for its swiftness of flight, its love of ...
/s/swallow.htm - 24k

Swim (8 Occurrences)

/s/swim.htm - 9k

Swiftly (15 Occurrences)

/s/swiftly.htm - 10k

Launch (3 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To move with force and swiftness like a sliding from the stocks into the
water; to plunge; to make a beginning; as, to launch into the current of a ...
/l/launch.htm - 8k

Gnosticism
... fanatical. in the 2nd century spread with the swiftness of an epidemic over
the church from Syria to Gaul" (Law, The Tests of Life, 26). ...
/g/gnosticism.htm - 38k

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