Word Study for G4692 (σπεύδω)

speúdō /spyoo'-do/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably strengthened from πούς

Meaningto "speed" ("study"), i.e. urge on (diligently or earnestly); by implication, to await eagerly

KJV usage(make, with) haste unto.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of speúdō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word speúdō, represented by G4692, means to "make haste" or to "speed." It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses in the Bible. The term conveys a sense of urgency, diligence, and earnestness, describing an action to move quickly toward a goal or to eagerly await an event.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G4692 is used to illustrate prompt and purposeful action. When the shepherds heard of the Messiah's birth, they "came with haste" to find him Luke 2:16. Similarly, when Jesus called to Zacchaeus, He commanded him to "make haste, and come down," and Zacchaeus responded immediately, as he "made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully" Luke 19:5-6. The Apostle Paul also "hasted" in his travels, driven by a desire to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost Acts 20:16. The word also describes an urgent directive, as when Paul was told in a vision to "Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem" Acts 22:18.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context of making haste:

G2064 érchomai (to come or go): This word for movement is paired with haste, as when the shepherds "came with haste" after receiving the angelic news Luke 2:16.
G2597 katabaínō (to descend): This word is directly linked to the command for haste in the story of Zacchaeus, who was told to "make haste, and come down" from the tree Luke 19:5.
G4328 prosdokáō (to anticipate; to await): This term describes the internal attitude that accompanies haste. Believers are described as "looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God" 2 Peter 3:12, connecting eager expectation with urgent living.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G4692 centers on the proper response to divine revelation and purpose.

Eager Obedience: The word demonstrates a joyful and immediate response to God's call. Zacchaeus's quick descent from the tree shows a heart ready to receive Jesus without delay Luke 19:6.
Purposeful Urgency: Haste is not depicted as panicked or chaotic, but as a focused speed driven by a clear mission. Paul's journey to Jerusalem Acts 20:16 and the shepherds' search for Jesus Luke 2:16 are acts of deliberate and purposeful urgency.
Eschatological Readiness: The term is used to describe a believer's posture toward the end times. In "hasting unto the coming of the day of God" 2 Peter 3:12, the Christian life is characterized by an active and eager anticipation of God's final fulfillment.

Summary

In summary, G4692 is more than just a word for speed. It encompasses a spectrum of meanings, from the physical act of moving quickly in response to a command to the spiritual attitude of eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises. It consistently portrays haste as a positive quality, signifying joyful obedience, missional focus, and a faith that is actively and urgently oriented toward God's divine appointments.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (3 verses); never once in the other 24.

Luke

Acts

2 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.