Word Studies¶
Question¶
What does "shortly come to pass" (en tachei) in Revelation 1:1 and 22:6 actually mean? Does it require fulfillment within John's generation, or does it describe the manner of divine action?
G5034 — τάχος (tachos) — quickness, speed¶
Original: τάχος Transliteration: táchos Pronunciation: takh'-os Part of Speech: Neuter noun Definition: A brief space (of time); with ἐν, in haste/with speed
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| shortly | 4 | 50.0% |
| quickly | 3 | 37.5% |
| speedily | 1 | 12.5% |
| Total | 8 |
All Seven NT Occurrences (all as the phrase "en tachei")¶
| Ref | KJV Translation | Context | Semantic Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acts 12:7 | "quickly" | Angel to Peter: "Arise up quickly" | Manner-of-action (physical speed) |
| Acts 22:18 | "quickly" | Vision to Paul: "get thee quickly out of Jerusalem" | Manner-of-action (urgency) |
| Acts 25:4 | "shortly" | Festus: "he himself would depart shortly" | Temporal nearness (near-future plan) |
| Luke 18:8 | "speedily" | "He will avenge them speedily" + "shall he find faith?" | Ambiguous (speed + duration tension) |
| Romans 16:20 | "shortly" | "God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly" | Eschatological (Gen 3:15 arc, ~2000 yrs) |
| Rev 1:1 | "shortly" | "Things which must shortly come to pass" | Eschatological/Programmatic |
| Rev 22:6 | "shortly" | "Things which must shortly be done" | Eschatological/Programmatic |
Semantic Range Analysis¶
The seven occurrences demonstrate three distinct semantic categories: 1. Manner-of-action (Acts 12:7; 22:18) — Speed of the action itself, not timing of fulfillment 2. Temporal nearness (Acts 25:4) — Event occurring in the near future 3. Eschatological (Luk 18:8; Rom 16:20; Rev 1:1; 22:6) — Speed/certainty of divine action within salvation-historical framework
The eschatological uses cannot be reduced to simple temporal nearness: - Luke 18:8: "speedily" is juxtaposed with "though he bear long" and "shall he find faith?" — implying duration - Romans 16:20: "shortly" in context of Gen 3:15 promise — still unfulfilled ~2,000 years later
Hebrew Background (via LXX mapping)¶
H4120 meherah maps to G5034 tachos in the LXX (5 shared occurrences, PMI: 8.47). The Hebrew source words: - H4120 meherah (score: 15.17) — "a hurry; promptly" — 20 OT occurrences - H4118 maher (score: 13.49) — "hurrying, hastily" - H4116 mahar (score: 10.56) — root verb: "to hurry, flow easily" — 64 OT occurrences
Key H4120 (meherah) occurrences showing manner-of-action: - Ps 147:15 — "his word runneth swiftly" (manner of divine word) - Isa 5:26 — nations come "with speed" (manner of military movement) - Eccl 8:11 — sentence not executed "speedily" (moral function — preventing complacency) - Jer 27:16 — false prophets say vessels return "shortly" (warning against misuse of "shortly")
G5035 — ταχύ (tachy) — quickly¶
Original: ταχύ Transliteration: tachý Pronunciation: takh-oo' Part of Speech: Adverb (neuter singular of tachys used adverbially) Definition: Shortly, without delay, soon, quickly
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| quickly | 10 | 90.9% |
| lightly | 1 | 9.1% |
| Total | 11 |
All 13 NT Occurrences (BLB count)¶
| Ref | Context |
|---|---|
| Mat 5:25 | "Agree with thine adversary quickly" |
| Mat 28:7 | "Go quickly, and tell his disciples" |
| Mark 9:39 | "no man which shall do a miracle... can lightly speak evil" |
| Mark 16:8 | "they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre" |
| Luke 15:22 | "Bring forth quickly the best robe" (from parable) |
| John 11:29 | "she arose quickly, and came unto him" |
| Rev 2:5 | "I will come unto thee quickly" (conditional-disciplinary) |
| Rev 2:16 | "I will come unto thee quickly" (conditional-disciplinary) |
| Rev 3:11 | "I come quickly: hold that fast" (transitional) |
| Rev 11:14 | "the third woe cometh quickly" (narrative-sequential) |
| Rev 22:7 | "I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth" (eschatological) |
| Rev 22:12 | "I come quickly; and my reward is with me" (eschatological) |
| Rev 22:20 | "Surely I come quickly. Amen" (eschatological, emphatic) |
Revelation Distribution — Four Functional Categories¶
- Conditional-disciplinary (2:5; 2:16): "I will come quickly" = swiftly/suddenly for church judgment, conditional on non-repentance
- Transitional (3:11): Between disciplinary and eschatological — "hold fast"
- Narrative-sequential (11:14): "the third woe cometh quickly" — within the visionary sequence
- Eschatological (22:7; 22:12; 22:20): Triple "I come quickly" in the epilogue — escalating: plain statement > with reward > emphatic Nai ("Surely")
G5281 — ὑπομονή (hypomonE) — patience, endurance¶
Original: ὑπομονή Transliteration: hupŏmŏnē Pronunciation: hoop-om-on-ay' Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| patience | 22 | 75.9% |
| of patience | 2 | 6.9% |
| patient continuance | 1 | 3.4% |
| the enduring | 1 | 3.4% |
| the patient waiting | 1 | 3.4% |
| in patience | 1 | 3.4% |
| the patience | 1 | 3.4% |
| Total | 29 |
Seven Revelation Occurrences¶
| Ref | Text | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:9 | "companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ" | John's self-identification |
| Rev 2:2 | "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience" | To Ephesus |
| Rev 2:3 | "And hast borne, and hast patience" | To Ephesus (repeated) |
| Rev 2:19 | "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience" | To Thyatira |
| Rev 3:10 | "thou hast kept the word of my patience" | To Philadelphia |
| Rev 13:10 | "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints" | Beast narrative |
| Rev 14:12 | "Here is the patience of the saints" | Three angels' messages |
Co-occurrence with "Shortly/Quickly" Pattern¶
The 7 hypomonE references co-occur with 8+ "quickly/shortly" references across Revelation: - en tachei appears in 1:1 (with hypomonE in 1:9) and 22:6 - tachy appears in 2:5 (with hypomonE in 2:2,3), 2:16, 3:11 (with hypomonE in 3:10), 22:7, 22:12, 22:20 - If all events were truly imminent, the repeated exhortations to patient endurance would be structurally unnecessary
Key NT Parallels (patience + coming)¶
- Heb 10:36 — "ye have need of patience, that... ye might receive the promise"
- Jas 5:7-8 — "Be patient... unto the coming of the Lord... the coming of the Lord draweth nigh"
- Luk 18:1 — "men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (context of en tachei passage)
G2540 — καιρός (kairos) — appointed time, season¶
Original: καιρός Transliteration: kairós Part of Speech: Masculine noun Definition: An occasion, set or proper time; appointed season BLB Count: 87
Key Distinction: kairos vs. chronos (G5550)¶
| Feature | kairos (G2540) | chronos (G5550) |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Appointed season, opportune time | Duration, span of time |
| Focus | Qualitative — the right/appointed moment | Quantitative — how long |
| Rev usage | 1:3; 12:12; 12:14; 22:10 | 2:21; 6:11; 10:6; 20:3 |
Revelation uses kairos for theological nearness ("the kairos is near" = the appointed season has arrived) and chronos for temporal duration ("rest yet for a little chronos" = a period of time must pass).
Key Verses¶
- Rev 1:3 — "ho kairos engys" — "the appointed season is near"
- Rev 22:10 — "ho kairos gar engys estin" — "for the appointed season is near"
- Mark 1:15 — "Peplerotai ho kairos" — "the kairos has been fulfilled" (perfect tense = completed with ongoing result)
- Acts 1:7 — "chronous e kairous" — "times (chronous) or seasons (kairous)" — both terms used together, distinguished
- Rev 12:12 — "oligon kairon echei" — "he has a short kairos" (the devil's limited appointed season)
G1451 — ἐγγύς (engys) — near, at hand¶
Original: ἐγγύς Transliteration: engýs Part of Speech: Adverb BLB Count: 30
Key Verses¶
| Ref | Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:3 | "at hand" | "the time (kairos) is at hand" |
| Rev 22:10 | "at hand" | "the time (kairos) is at hand" |
| Phil 4:5 | "at hand" | "The Lord is at hand" |
| Heb 6:8 | "nigh" | Land "nigh unto cursing" |
| Heb 8:13 | "nigh" | Old covenant "nigh unto vanishing away" |
Note: In Rev 1:3 and 22:10, engys modifies kairos (appointed season), not chronos (duration). The claim is that the appointed season has drawn near, not that a specific calendar date is imminent.
G1163 — δεῖ (dei) — it is necessary, must¶
Original: δεῖ Transliteration: deî Part of Speech: Verb (impersonal, 3rd person singular) Definition: It is necessary; it must be BLB Count: 106
The "ha dei genesthai" Formula¶
The phrase "ha dei genesthai" (ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι) = "things which must come to pass" appears in: - Daniel 2:28 LXX — + "ep' eschatou ton hemeron" (in the last days) - Rev 1:1 — + "en tachei" (shortly/with quickness) - Rev 22:6 — + "en tachei" (shortly/with quickness)
dei (present tense, active indicative, 3rd singular) conveys divine necessity — these events are under divine decree. The present tense indicates ongoing necessity.
G3114 — μακροθυμέω (makrothumeO) — to be long-spirited, patient¶
Original: μακροθυμέω Transliteration: makrothyméō Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To be long-spirited; to be forbearing, patient
All NT Occurrences¶
| Ref | KJV Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 18:26 | "have patience" | Parable of unforgiving servant |
| Mat 18:29 | "Have patience" | Same parable |
| Luk 18:7 | "he bear long" | Parable of unjust judge — WITH en tachei in v.8 |
| 1Co 13:4 | "suffereth long" | Love's attributes |
| 1Th 5:14 | "be patient" | Exhortation |
| Heb 6:15 | "after he had patiently endured" | Abraham's patience |
| Jas 5:7 | "be patient" | "unto the coming of the Lord" |
| Jas 5:8 | "be patient" | "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh" |
| 2Pe 3:9 | "is longsuffering" | "not slack... but longsuffering" — DIRECT CONTRAST with bradynO |
Theological Significance¶
makrothumeO is the positive counterpart to bradynO: God is not "slow/slack" (bradynO) — He is "long-spirited" (makrothumeO). The apparent delay has a purpose (salvation, repentance), not a deficiency.
G1019 — βραδύνω (bradynO) — to delay, be slow¶
Original: βραδύνω Transliteration: bradýnō Part of Speech: Verb Definition: To delay, be slow, tarry
NT Occurrences¶
| Ref | KJV Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1Ti 3:15 | "I tarry long" | Paul's potential delay in coming |
| 2Pe 3:9 | "slack" | "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise" |
Semantic Relationship to tachos (G5034)¶
bradynO is the semantic ANTONYM of tachos: - tachos = speed, quickness - bradynO = delay, slowness Peter uses bradynO to deny that God is "delaying" and uses makrothumeO to explain the apparent interval.
G1022 — βραδύτης (bradytes) — slackness, tardiness¶
Original: βραδύτης Transliteration: bradýtēs Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Tardiness, slowness
Sole NT Occurrence¶
- 2Pe 3:9 — "as some men count slackness (bradyteta)" — the scoffers' accusation
G5549 — χρονίζω (chronizO) — to delay, tarry¶
Original: χρονίζω Transliteration: chronízō Part of Speech: Verb Definition: From chronos; to take time, linger, delay
NT Occurrences¶
| Ref | KJV Translation | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 24:48 | "delayeth" | Evil servant: "My lord delayeth his coming" |
| Mat 25:5 | "tarried" | "While the bridegroom tarried" |
| Luk 1:21 | "tarried so long" | Zacharias in the temple |
| Luk 12:45 | "delayeth" | Parallel to Mat 24:48 |
| Heb 10:37 | "tarry" | "he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" |
Significance for the Delay Framework¶
chronizO appears in parables that explicitly build in delay: - Mat 24:48 / Luk 12:45 — delay is a test; the evil response is to presume upon the delay - Mat 25:5 — the bridegroom's tarrying is a narrative fact, not a moral failure - Heb 10:37 — the promise is "he will NOT chronizO" — quoting Hab 2:3
The NT parables thus INCORPORATE delay into the eschatological framework while maintaining certainty of fulfillment.
H4120 — מְהֵרָה (meherah) — hurry, speed¶
Original: מְהֵרָה Transliteration: mᵉhêrâh Pronunciation: meh-hay-raw' Part of Speech: Feminine noun Definition: Properly a hurry; hence (adverbially) promptly
Translations in KJV¶
| Translation | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| quickly | 10 | 50.0% |
| speedily | 4 | 20.0% |
| hastily | 1 | 5.0% |
| speed | 1 | 5.0% |
| soon | 1 | 5.0% |
| swiftly | 1 | 5.0% |
| with speed | 1 | 5.0% |
| shortly | 1 | 5.0% |
| Total | 20 |
Key Occurrences Showing Manner-of-Action¶
| Ref | Text | Semantic Function |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 147:15 | "his word runneth swiftly" | Manner of divine word — describes HOW God's word operates |
| Isa 5:26 | "they shall come with speed" | Manner of military movement |
| Eccl 8:11 | "sentence... not executed speedily" | Moral function — prevention of complacency |
| Jer 27:16 | "vessels... shall shortly be brought again" | False prophets' misuse of "shortly" |
| Deut 11:17 | "ye perish quickly from off the good land" | Manner of judgment once triggered |
LXX Mapping to Greek¶
meherah (H4120) maps to the tachos word-group in the LXX: - G5034 tachos (5 shared, PMI: 8.47) — PRIMARY - G5030 tacheOs (3 shared, PMI: 8.92) — speedily - G5036 tachys-forms (8 shared) — quick/swift
This confirms that the Greek tachos carries the Hebrew semantic range of meherah, which predominantly describes the manner of divine action (how God acts once He acts) rather than calendar proximity.