τάχιον
táchion
G5032 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Comparative adverb indicating 'more quickly' or 'more rapidly,' marking a higher degree of swiftness or speed in action or occurrence relative to another. In both temporal and manner senses, it communicates a swifter or sooner execution, arrival, or completion than that referenced. Semantic range includes both manner ('in a swifter way') and temporal ('at an earlier time') senses.
Semantic Range
more quickly, more rapidly, sooner, in a swifter manner, at an earlier time
Root / Etymology
Formed by attaching the comparative suffix -ιον to the root ταχύς, meaning 'swift' or 'quick.' Thus, τάχιον is the comparative neuter singular form of the adverbial usage, literally 'more quickly.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical and Koine Greek, τάχιον functioned as a comparative adverb, commonly used to indicate acceleration or precedence of an action or event. Its usage in the New Testament (e.g., John 20:4) is in narrative contexts to signify one person moving or arriving sooner than another. The standard English translations such as 'more quickly,' 'sooner,' or 'more rapidly' generally capture the core sense. However, the comparative nuance—that the action is not simply 'quick' but 'quicker' than something else—is sometimes underemphasized in translation. In the broader Greek corpus, it is a regular comparative (cf. ταχύς—quick, τάχιον—more quickly), distinct from the superlative τάχιστα ('most quickly'). Unlike other Greek adverbs of speed, τάχιον specifically signals comparative swiftness or precedence, rather than mere speed or urgency. Its form and function are consistent from classical Greek through the Koine period, and it does not carry specialized religious or technical connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter singular of the comparative of ταχύς (as adverb); more swiftly, i.e. (in manner) more rapidly, or (in time) more speedily:--out (run), quickly, shortly, sooner.
Root Family
ταχ- (tácha) — swift, quick, prompt
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G5029 | τάχα | perhaps |
| G5030 | ταχέως | swiftly |
| G5031 | ταχινός | swift |
| G5033 | τάχιστα | most swiftly |
| G5034 | τάχος | with swiftness |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5032-01 |
τάχειον | tacheion | ADV COMP |
faster | more quickly | more quickly | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5032-01 |
John 13:27 | τάχειον | tacheion | ADV COMP |
quickly | more quickly | more quickly |
G5032-01 |
John 20:4 | τάχειον | tacheion | ADV COMP |
faster | more quickly | more quickly |
G5032-01 |
Hebrews 13:19 | τάχειον | tacheion | ADV COMP |
the sooner | more quickly | more quickly |
G5032-01 |
Hebrews 13:23 | τάχειον | tacheion | ADV COMP |
soon | more quickly | sooner |