Words that are used with different shades of meaning in the OT and the NT. “Run” is, of course, moving quickly from one place to another (2Sam 2:18-23; John 20:2; John 20:4), but it is also used figuratively to denote the struggle of the person of faith to stay the course against evil and remain committed to God in this world (1Cor 9:24-26; Gal 2:2; Gal 5:7; Heb 12:1). “Runners” could be messengers who relayed news (Jer 51:31; 2Chr 30:6; 2Chr 30:10; Esth 3:13; Job 9:25); a group of persons around a king assigned to run errands and do his bidding (1Sam 8:11; 2Sam 15:1); or a group that served as a bodyguard for the king (1Sam 22:17; 2Kgs 10:25; 2Kgs 11:4) and ran in front of the king’s chariot (2Sam 15:1; 1Kgs 1:5). Runners were foot soldiers, as contrasted with cavalry and chariot warriors.
