G5034 — τάχος (táchos)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G5034
Original: τάχος
Transliteration: táchos
Pronunciation: takh'-os
Part of Speech: Neuter noun
Root: same root as G5036 ταχύς (tachýs) — swift, quick
Occurrences: 7–8 in NT (7 confirmed by Greek parser, all dative singular)
First Occurrence: Luke 18:8 — "he will avenge them speedily (ἐν τάχει)"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

A brief space (of time); with the preposition ἐν: "in speed" = speedily, quickly, shortly. The word functions exclusively in the fixed idiom ἐν τάχει (dative singular, lit. "in speed/swiftness"), which is then rendered adverbially.

Morphological Note¶

All 7 confirmed occurrences are in a single inflected form: τάχει — dative singular neuter (N-DSN). The word never appears in nominative, accusative, or genitive in the NT. It is a lexicalized idiom:

ἐν τάχει = "with swiftness" → shortly / quickly / speedily

This frozen construction makes τάχος functionally equivalent to the adverbs ταχέως (G5030) and ταχύ (G5035), though differing in register and nuance.

Louw-Nida Semantic Domain¶

Domain: 067 — Time
Subdomain: 067.005 — Duration of Time without Reference to Points or Units of Time
Other words in domain: αἰφνίδιος (G0160, sudden), ἄφνω (G0869, suddenly), ἄρτι (G0737, now), αἰώνιος (G0166, eternal)

UBS Semantic Domains (search_relationships.py)¶

[067] Time — the broader semantic field for temporal nearness, duration, and swiftness.

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
shortly	4	50%
quickly	3	38%
speedily	1	13%

From search_strongs.py --lookup. All renderings translate the single idiom ἐν τάχει.

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
Revelation	2–3	0.5–0.7
Acts	3	0.3
Romans	1	0.2
Luke	1	0.1

Revelation and Acts account for the bulk of occurrences. Revelation's heavy use ties the word to apocalyptic urgency; Acts uses it in narrative contexts of miraculous and urgent departure. Absent from Paul's major doctrinal letters and the Gospels except Luke.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Prophetic / Eschatological Imminence¶

The phrase ἐν τάχει frames divine revelatory events that "must" (δεῖ) soon occur.

Rev 1:1 — "to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass (ἐν τάχει γενέσθαι)"
Rev 22:6 — "the Lord God… sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done"
Luke 18:8 — "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily (ἐν τάχει)"

2. Urgent / Miraculous Departure¶

Commands to leave or act immediately in narrative contexts.

Acts 12:7 — the angel commands Peter: "Arise up quickly (ἐν τάχει)" as chains fall off
Acts 22:18 — Jesus to Paul in a vision: "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem"

3. Near-Future Temporal Expectation¶

Human or apostolic plans expected in the near term; also eschatological anticipation.

Acts 25:4 — "Festus answered… that he himself would depart shortly (ἐν τάχει)"
Romans 16:20 — "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly (ἐν τάχει)"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occurrences	Typical Pattern
ἄγγελος (angel)	G32	3x	Angelic agency in revelation (Rev 1:1, 22:6; Acts 12:7)
θεός (God)	G2316	3x	God as the one acting or sending (Rev 22:6; Rom 16:20; Luke 18:8)
κύριος (Lord)	G2962	3x	Rev 22:6, Acts 22:18, Rom 16:20 — divine authority behind the urgency
δεῖ (must/it is necessary)	G1163	2x	"must shortly come to pass" (Rev 1:1, 22:6) — prophetic necessity
δεικνύω (to show)	G1166	2x	Revelatory showing: "shew… things which must shortly come to pass"

From co-occurrence analysis; collocations weighted toward Revelation's revelatory formula.

Word Family / Cognates¶

All from root G5036 ταχύς (tachýs, "swift"):

Word	Strong's	POS	Occurrences	Gloss
ταχύς	G5036	adjective	—	swift, quick (root)
τάχος	G5034	noun	7–8	speed; always ἐν τάχει
ταχέως	G5030	adverb	10	quickly, speedily
ταχύ	G5035	adverb	12	quickly, soon
ταχινός	G5031	adjective	2	swift, impending
τάχιον	G5032	adverb	5	more quickly, sooner

Synonyms¶

προσέχω (G4337) — listed by search_relationships.py as a semantic neighbor alongside prompt attention / heedfulness.

Antonyms¶

No antonym surfaced in search_relationships.py.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
ταχύ (tachý)	G5035	"quickly"	Adverb (neuter of adj.); functionally identical meaning; more common (12 vv); not locked to ἐν construction
ταχέως (tachéōs)	G5030	"shortly," "quickly"	Adverb form; broader range including moral/spiritual promptness (1 Tim 5:22: "lay hands suddenly on no man")
ἄφνω (áphno)	G0869	—	"Suddenly" — emphasizes unexpected arrival, not merely nearness or speed
αἰφνίδιος (aiphnídios)	G0160	—	"Sudden, unawares" — stresses the surprise element; Louw-Nida domain neighbor
εὐθέως (euthéōs)	G2112	"quickly" (1x)	"Immediately/straightway" — emphasizes directness/no delay, not speed or nearness

Hebrew Source¶

Hebrew Word	Strong's	Co-occ	PMI Score	Gloss
מְהֵרָה (mᵉhêrâh)	H4120	5	8.47	hurry, speedily (fem. noun)
מַהֵר (mahêr)	H4118	4	8.38	hurrying (adjective/adverb)
מָהַר (mâhar)	H4116	4	6.56	to be in a hurry (verb)

The dominant Hebrew source cluster is מהר (mhr) — a root meaning "to hasten, hurry." Note: no single overwhelming Hebrew bridge (highest co-occ is 5), confirming τάχος as a Greek NT word whose Hebrew OT equivalent is the מהר family but without a strong single lexical bridge. A cross-testament trace is not warranted (co-occ < 20).