God Speed

by Wayne Blank

In the modern world, speed has come to simply mean a rate of movement (e.g. high speed, miles per hour, meters per second etc.), but the English (derived from the Anglo-Saxon) origin of the word meant not velocity, but to thrive, or to prosper. The term God speed, used by some translations of the Holy Scriptures, is a contraction of the saying, "I wish that God may speed you," or in today's terminology, "I wish that God may bless you with success." Both specific uses of "God speed" found in the King James Version have nothing to do with physical motion.

God Speed

Holy Bible An example of "God speed" in the Old Testament was when Abraham's servant prayed for success when he was sent to find a wife for Abraham's son Isaac (see also Isaac's Faith And Obedience). The original Hebrew word translated as "speed" in this verse is (pronounced) caw-raw, and means to land upon, or to bring about:

"And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray Thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham." (Genesis 24:12 KJV)

The servant's prayer was answered.

"And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother" (Genesis 24:15 KJV)

In the New Testament, the apostle John spoke of "God speed" in another way - that those who are antichrist not be blessed with it. The original Greek word translated as "speed" in these verses is (pronounced) kaw-ee-row, and means to be cheerful, or to be well.

"And this is love, that we walk after His Commandments. This is the Commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it." [see The First Commandment, The Second Commandment, The Third Commandment, The Fourth Commandment, The Fifth Commandment, The Sixth Commandment, The Seventh Commandment, The Eighth Commandment, The Ninth Commandment and The Tenth Commandment]
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." [for who and what the ultimate Antichrist will be, and the fate that awaits him and his "great false prophet," see The Antichrist]
"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 1:6-11 KJV)

Fact Finder: Were the apostles empowered to pronounce a curse upon those who pervert the Gospel?
Galatians 1:6-9
See also Bind and Loose

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