Bible Dictionary
DELAY
To delay means to postpone, tarry, or stop for a time. In biblical narratives it may describe postponing action, waiting for a person, or wrongly assuming that a promised event will not occur soon.
Definition
To delay means to postpone, tarry, stop for a time, or prolong an action. The word may describe a simple pause, a deferred decision, or an expectation that something promised will not happen soon.
Biblical Usage
The New Testament uses delay for postponement and for prolonging an expected event. Exodus uses it of not discontinuing a customary offering, while the account of Moses’ delay records the people’s disappointment and mistaken conclusions.
Historical Background
The biblical terms translated delay include Hebrew expressions for stopping or tarrying and the Greek chronizo, meaning to prolong or defer. Context determines whether the emphasis is on time passing, postponement, or disappointed expectation.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>de-la': The noun "delay" (Ac 25:17, "I made no delay"; the King James Version "without any delay") means "procrastination." The verb "to delay" (Ex 22:29; 'achar) involves the idea "to stop for a time," the people being admonished not to discontinue a custom. The Pil. perfect of bush (Ex 32:1), "Moses delayed to come," expresses not only the fact that he tarried, but also the disappointment on the part of the people, being under the impression that he possibly was put to shame and had failed in his mission, which also better explains the consequent action of the people. "To delay" (chronizo) is used transitively in Mt 24:48 (the Revised Version (British and American) "My lord tarrieth") and in Lu 12:45. The meaning here is "to prolong," "to defer."</p><p>A. L. Breslich</p>