מָהַר
𐤌𐤄𐤓
mâhar
H4116 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To hasten, act or move quickly; to do something with urgency or promptness, often in response to a situation or command. Used both literally (to move swiftly, hurry) and metaphorically (to act with mental or emotional urgency). The nuance can be positive (prompt obedience or eagerness) or negative (recklessness, rashness, panic).
Semantic Range
to hurry, to hasten, act promptly, make haste, move or respond quickly, be rash or reckless, act out of fear, to do eagerly or with zeal, to be or cause to be speedy, adverbially: quickly, speedily, soon
Root / Etymology
From the root מהר (מ־ה־ר), associated with speed or swiftness. The verb מָהַר in its basic stem (qal) denotes the act of hurrying or hastening. The root idea concerns movement or action that is carried out with speed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb מָהַר occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, often describing an individual's quickened movement or immediate response (e.g. Genesis 18:6, Abraham hurries to prepare food for guests; Exodus 34:8, Moses hurries to bow in worship). The word can also refer to mental or emotional haste (Deuteronomy 9:16) and may carry connotations of eagerness or impulsiveness, depending on context. While sometimes expressing praiseworthy promptness or readiness (e.g. response to a divine command), it may also refer negatively to rash or reckless behavior (Psalm 106:13). The adverbial use ("quickly," "speedily") is common, especially in narrative and poetic passages, where מָהַר is paired with other verbs. Distinct from חוּשׁ (H2363), which often suggests earnestness, energetic movement, or excitement, whereas מָהַר may focus more broadly on the fact and manner of hurrying. English translations ("make haste," "hasten," "act quickly") generally capture the basic sense but sometimes flatten the positive or negative valence that may be present in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); often used (with another verb) adverbially, promptly; be carried headlong, fearful, (cause to make, in, make) haste(-n, -ily), (be) hasty, (fetch, make ready) [idiom] quickly, rash, [idiom] shortly, (be so) [idiom] soon, make speed, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] straightway, [idiom] suddenly, swift.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
מהר (m-h-r) — to hurry, to hasten, to act swiftly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4106 | מָהִיר | quick, ready |
| H4117 | מָהַר | to hasten |
| H4118 | מַהֵר | Hurry! |
| H4119 | מֹהַר | with bride-price |
| H4120 | מְהֵרָה | haste |
Word Forms
29 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4116-25 |
וַ/יְמַהֵ֧ר | vayemaher | HC/Vpw3ms |
hastened | and he hurried | 9 |
H4116-23 |
וַ/תְּמַהֵ֗ר | vatemaher | HC/Vpw3fs |
and she hurried | and she hastened | 8 |
H4116-24 |
וַֽ/יְמַהֲר֗וּ | vayemaharu | HC/Vpw3mp |
and-hastened | and they hurried | 6 |
H4116-06 |
מַהֲרוּ֮ | maharu | HVpv2mp |
hurry | hasten yourselves | 5 |
H4116-07 |
מַהֵר֙ | maher | HVpv2ms |
Hurry | Make haste! | 4 |
H4116-29 |
יְמַהֵ֤ר | yemaher | HVpi3ms |
he overtake | he hastens | 3 |
H4116-15 |
מִֽהֲר֖וּ | miharu | HVpp3cp |
hastened | they hastened | 3 |
H4116-04 |
מַהֲרָ֣/ה | maharah | HVpv2ms/Sd |
Hurry | Hasten! | 2 |
H4116-27 |
וִֽ/ימַהֲר֔וּ | vimaharu | HC/Vpi3mp |
and they hasten | and they hasten urgently | 2 |
H4116-10 |
מִהַ֔ר | mihar | HVpp3ms |
hastens | he hastened urgently | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
64 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4116-25 |
Genesis 18:6 | וַ/יְמַהֵ֧ר | vayemaher | HC/Vpw3ms |
hurried | and he hurried |
H4116-05 |
Genesis 18:6 | מַהֲרִ֞י | mahari | HVpv2fs |
Quickly | Hurry yourself! |
H4116-25 |
Genesis 18:7 | וַ/יְמַהֵ֖ר | vayemaher | HC/Vpw3ms |
and he hurried | and he hurried |
H4116-07 |
Genesis 19:22 | מַהֵר֙ | maher | HVpv2ms |
Hurry | Make haste! |
H4116-23 |
Genesis 24:18 | וַ/תְּמַהֵ֗ר | vatemaher | HC/Vpw3fs |
and she hurried | and she hastened |
H4116-23 |
Genesis 24:20 | וַ/תְּמַהֵ֗ר | vatemaher | HC/Vpw3fs |
and she hastened | and she hastened |
H4116-23 |
Genesis 24:46 | וַ/תְּמַהֵ֗ר | vatemaher | HC/Vpw3fs |
and she hastened | and she hastened |
H4116-12 |
Genesis 27:20 | מִהַ֥רְתָּ | mihareta | HVpp2ms |
you have found it so quickly | you hastened |
H4116-20 |
Genesis 41:32 | וּ/מְמַהֵ֥ר | umemaher | HC/Vprmsa |
and will hasten | and the hastening one |
H4116-25 |
Genesis 43:30 | וַ/יְמַהֵ֣ר | vayemaher | HC/Vpw3ms |
hurried | and he hurried |