A Hebrew verb meaning to hurry, hasten, make haste, act quickly, be prompt. It conveys urgency and speed in action. In the Piel stem it means to hasten or do quickly. The related noun meherah means 'speed, quickly.' It is used both positively (eager obedience) and negatively (rash behavior).
The Bible presents a nuanced theology of speed. Positively, mahar describes eager responsiveness to God: Abraham hurried to prepare food for the divine visitors (Genesis 18:6-7), modeling lavish, urgent hospitality. Zacchaeus hurried down the tree at Jesus' call (Luke 19:6). But negatively, the word warns against hasty, rash action: 'Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him' (Proverbs 29:20). The wisdom tradition teaches: be quick to obey God, but slow to act impulsively. Israel's pattern of quickly turning from God's commands (Exodus 32:8) stands as a warning against the haste of unfaithfulness.