Difference between revisions of "Way"

<p> '''A. Nouns. ''' </p> <p> <em> Derek </em> ( '''''דֶּרֶךְ''''' , Strong'S #1870), “way (path, road, highway); distance; journey; manner, conduct; condition; destiny.” This noun has cognates in Akkadian, Ugaritic (where it sometimes means “power” or “rule”), Phoenician, Punic, Arabic, and Aramaic. It occurs about 706 times in biblical [[Hebrew]] and in all periods. </p> <p> First, this word refers to a path, a road, or a highway. In Gen. 3:24 (the first occurrence of the word) it means “path” or “route”: “… And he placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every [direction], to [guard] the way of the tree of life.” Sometimes, as in Gen. 16:7, the word represents a pathway, road, or route: “And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.” The actual road itself is represented in Gen. 38:21: “Where is the [temple prostitute], that was openly by the wayside?” (In Num. 20:17 the word means “highway,” a well-known and well-traveled road: “… We will go by the king’s highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.” </p> <p> Second, this noun represents a “distance” (how far or how long) between two points: “And he set three days’ journey [a distance of three days] betwixt himself and Jacob …” (Gen. 30:36). </p> <p> In other passages <em> derek </em> refers to the action or process of “taking a journey”: “And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way [on the journey]” (Gen. 45:23). In an extended nuance <em> derek </em> means “undertaking”: “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure …” (Isa. 58:13). Cf. Gen. 24:21: “And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not” (cf. Deut. 28:29). </p> <p> In another emphasis this word connotes how and what one does, a “manner, custom, behavior, mode of life”: “Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth” (Gen. 19:31). In 1 Kings 2:4 <em> derek </em> is applied to an activity that controls one, one’s life-style: “If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee … a man on the throne of Israel.” In 1 Kings 16:26 <em> derek </em> is used of Jeroboam’s attitude: “For he walked in all the way of [[Jeroboam]] the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made [[Israel]] to sin.…” Deeds, or specific acts, may be connoted by this noun: “Lo, these are parts of his ways; but how little a portion is heard of him? But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14). </p> <p> <em> Derek </em> refers to a “condition” in the sense of what has happened to someone. This is clear by the parallelism of Isa. 40:27: “Why sayest thou, [[O]] Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and [the justice due to me is passed away] from my God?”— In one passage <em> derek </em> signifies the overall course and fixed path of one’s life, or his “destiny”: “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). </p> <p> Finally, this word sometimes seems to bear the meaning of its Ugaritic cognate, “power” or “rulership”: “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways [NASB “favors”] to the strangers under every green tree …” (Jer. 3:13; cf. Job 26:14; 36:23; 40:19; Ps. 67:2; 110:7; 119:37; 138:5; Prov. 8:22; 19:16; 31:3; Hos. 10:13; Amos 8:14). Some scholars, however, contest this explanation of these passages. </p> <p> <em> 'Ôrach </em> ( '''''אֹרַח''''' , Strong'S #734), “way; path; course; conduct; manner.” Cognates of this word appear in Akkadian, Arabic, and Aramaic. Its 57 occurrences in biblical Hebrew are all in poetry except Gen. 18:11. </p> <p> In meaning this word parallels Hebrew <em> derek </em> , which it often synonymously parallels. First, <em> 'ôrach </em> means “path” or “way” conceived as a marked-out, well-traveled course: “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels …” (Gen. 49:17). In Judg. 5:6 the word means “highway”: “In the days of [[Shamgar]] … the highways were unoccupied, and the travelers walked through byways.” When the sun is likened to a “strong man” who rejoices “to run a race” (Ps. 19:5), <em> 'ôrach </em> represents a race course rather than a highway or a primitive, snake-laden path. The man who makes his path straight goes directly on his journey, not turning aside for the beckoning harlot (Prov. 9:15). So here the word represents the “course” one follows between his departure and arrival conceived in terms of small units, almost step by step. In Ps. 8:8 the word represents the ocean currents: “… The fowl of the air and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” </p> <p> <em> 'Ôrach </em> signifies the ground itself as the path upon which one treads: “He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet” (Isa. 41:3). </p> <p> In Job 30:12 the word seems to represent an obstruction or dam: “… They push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.” </p> <p> The word can refer to a recurring life event typical of an individual or a group. In its first biblical occurrence (Gen. 18:11) it is used of “the manner of women” (menstruation). Job 16:22 mentions the “way whence I shall not return,” or death, while other passages speak of life actions (Job 34:11; literally, “conduct”) or life-style (Prov. 15:10: “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way …”—prescribed lifestyle; Prov. 5:6: “Lest thou shouldest ponder the path [which is typified by] life …”). Thus, <em> 'ôrach </em> sometimes figures a proper course of action or proceeding within a given realm— “the path of judgment” (Isa. 40:14). </p> <p> The noun <em> ‘orchah </em> which occurs 3 times, represents a “wandering company” or a “caravan” (Gen. 37:25). </p> <p> —— '''B. Verb. ''' </p> <p> <em> ‘Arach </em> means “to go, wander.” This word, which occurs 6 times in biblical Hebrew, has cognates in Phoenician, Ethiopic, Aramaic, and Syriac. One example of this verb’s usage is found in Job 34:7-8: “What man is like Job … which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.” </p>

<div> '''1: '''''Ὁδός''''' ''' (Strong'S #3598 — Noun [[Feminine]] — hodos — hod-os' ) </div> <p> denotes (a) "a natural path, road, way," frequent in the Synoptic Gospels; elsewhere, e.g., &nbsp;Acts 8:26; &nbsp;1—Thessalonians 3:11; &nbsp;James 2:25; &nbsp;Revelation 16:12; (b) "a traveler's way" (see JOURNEY); (c) metaphorically, of "a course of conduct," or "way of thinking," e.g., of righteousness, &nbsp;Matthew 21:32; &nbsp;2—Peter 2:21; of God, &nbsp;Matthew 22:16 , and parallels, i.e., the "way" instructed and approved by God; so &nbsp;Acts 18:26; &nbsp;Hebrews 3:10 , "My ways" (cp. &nbsp;Revelation 15:3 ); of the Lord, &nbsp;Acts 18:25; "that leadeth to destruction," &nbsp;Matthew 7:13; "... unto life," &nbsp;Matthew 7:14; of peace, &nbsp;Luke 1:79; &nbsp;Romans 3:17; of Paul's "ways" in Christ, &nbsp;1—Corinthians 1:17 (plural); "more excellent" (of love), &nbsp; 1—Corinthians 12:31; of truth, &nbsp;2—Peter 2:2; of the right "way," &nbsp;2—Peter 2:15; of [[Balaam]] (id); of Cain, &nbsp;Jude 1:11; of a "way" consisting in what is from God, e.g., of life, &nbsp;Acts 2:28 (plural); of salvation, &nbsp; Acts 16:17; personified, of Christ as the means of access to the Father, &nbsp;John 14:6; of the course followed and characterized by the followers of Christ, &nbsp;Acts 9:2; &nbsp;19:9,23; &nbsp;24:22 . See Highway. </p> &nbsp;Luke 5:19&nbsp;19:4 <div> '''2: '''''Πάροδος''''' ''' (Strong'S #3938 — Noun Feminine — parodos — par'-od-os ) </div> <p> "a passing or passage," is used with en, "in," &nbsp;1—Corinthians 16:7 , "by the way" (lit, "in passing"). </p> <div> '''3: '''''Τρόπος''''' ''' (Strong'S #5158 — Noun Masculine — tropos — trop'-os ) </div> <p> "a turning, a manner," is translated "way" in &nbsp;Romans 3:2 , "(every) way;" &nbsp;Philippians 1:18 , "(in every) way." See [[Conversation]] , [[Manner]] , Means. </p> &nbsp;James 1:11&nbsp;Hebrews 12:17&nbsp;Matthew 8:30&nbsp;Luke 15:20Far&nbsp;Luke 14:32&nbsp;Hebrews 5:2&nbsp;Colossians 2:14&nbsp;2—Thessalonians 2:7[[Midst]]&nbsp;Mark 11:4Street.&nbsp; John 10:1&nbsp;2—Peter 3:1&nbsp;Galatians 2:5&nbsp;Acts 15:3&nbsp;21:5&nbsp;2—Corinthians 1:16[[Bring]]&nbsp;Matthew 13:25&nbsp;20:4&nbsp;Mark 11:4&nbsp;12:12&nbsp;Luke 19:32&nbsp;John 11:46&nbsp;Acts 9:17&nbsp;James 1:24[[Go]]&nbsp;Luke 8:14&nbsp;Luke 13:33&nbsp;Matthew 24:1[[Depart]]&nbsp;Acts 24:3&nbsp;Romans 3:12[[Escape]]Lascivious.

<p> This word is used to describe the manner of life which is lived by both saved and unsaved. Sometimes it is a good way called the "narrow way." Sometimes it is the road which the wicked travel down to destruction. Some samples are given of these two ways. </p> <p> &nbsp;Genesis 24:42 (a) The servant of [[Abraham]] is referring to the path he took and the course he pursued in carrying out the instructions of Abraham. (See &nbsp;Genesis 24:27). </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalm 110:7 (b) This is a reference to the life of our Lord as He walked through the desolate scenes of earth. He refreshed His heart from the ministry of the Spirit and communion with His Father. </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalm 119:1 (b) By this is described the general path of life which the Christian enters at the new birth and pursues on his way to Heaven. Christianity is a way of living, a manner of life. (See also &nbsp;Acts 9:2). </p> <p> &nbsp;Psalm 119:29 (a) There are those who persistently live a life of deceit in seeking to obtain position, power and wealth. This is the course referred to in this verse. (See also &nbsp;Psalm 139:24). </p> <p> &nbsp;Proverbs 14:12 (a) Satan is very clever in devising a path of life that seems to be the right way to Heaven. Every false religion teaches one of the ways of Satan. These paths or programs appear to be all right to the person who does not know GOD, nor the teachings of the Scriptures. Every one of these paths of living are opposed to the one way which is [[Christ Jesus]] Everyone is a substitute for [[Christ Jesus]]  These seem right to men, but they end in hell. (See also &nbsp;Proverbs 16:25). </p> <p> &nbsp;Isaiah 59:8 (a) GOD has a path for His people in which peace with GOD rules and reigns. It is a way of rest in which [[Christ]] blots out the sins, GOD the Father justifies the soul, the [[Holy]] Spirit directs the path, and there is no fretting nor worrying. It is GOD's path for everyone of His children. (See also &nbsp;Romans 3:17). </p> <p> &nbsp;John 14:6 (a) Here we see a beautiful description of the Person of the Lord [[Jesus Christ]] the only one who can bring us to the Father. He only can make us fit for Heaven, He only has the right and the power to take us to GOD. </p>

<p> This word has now in ordinary parlance so entirely forsaken its original sense (except in combination, as in "highway,"" causeway"), and is so uniformly employed in the secondary or metaphorical sense of a "custom" or "manner," that it is difficult to remember that in the Bible it most frequently signifies an actual road or track. Our translators have employed it as the equivalent of no less than eighteen distinct Hebrew terms. Of these several had the same secondary sense which the word "way" has with us. Two others ( '''''אֹרִח''''' and '''''נָתַיב''''' ) are employed only by the poets, and are commonly rendered "path" in the A.V. But the term which most frequently occurs, and in the majority of cases signifies (though it also is now and then used metaphorically) an actual road, is '''''דֶּרֶךְ''''' , ''Derek,'' connected with the German ''Treten,'' and the English "tread." It may be truly said that there is hardly a single passage in which this word occurs which would not be made clearer and more real if "road to" were substituted for "way of." Thus &nbsp;Genesis 16:7, "the spring of the road to Shur;" &nbsp;Numbers 14:24, "the road to the Red Sea;" &nbsp;1 Samuel 6:12, "the road to Bethshemesh;" &nbsp;Judges 9:37, "the road to the oak of Meonenim;" &nbsp;2 Kings 11:19, "the road to the gate." It turns that which is a mere general expression into a substantial reality. In like manner the word '''''Ὁδός''''' in the New Test. is almost invariably translated "way." &nbsp;Mark 10:32, "They were on the road going up to Jerusalem;" &nbsp;Matthew 20:17, "and Jesus took the twelve disciples apart in the road"out of the crowd of pilgrims who, like themselves, were bound for the Passover. </p> <p> There is one use of both derek and '''''Ὀδός''''' which must not be passed over, viz. in the sense of a religious course. In the Old Test. this occurs but rarely, perhaps twice: namely in &nbsp;Amos 8:14, "the manner of Beersheba," where the prophet is probably alluding to some idolatrous rites then practiced there; and again in &nbsp;Psalms 139:24, "look if there be any evil way," any idolatrous practices, "in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." But in the Acts of the [[Apostles]] '''''Ὁδός''''' '','' "the way," "the road," is the received, almost technical, term for the new religion which Paul first resisted and afterwards supported. See &nbsp;Acts 9:2; &nbsp;Acts 19:9; &nbsp;Acts 19:23; &nbsp;Acts 22:4; &nbsp;Acts 24:14; &nbsp;Acts 24:22. In each of these the word "that" is an interpolation of our translators, and should have been put into italics, as it is in Acs 24:22. </p> <p> The religion of [[Islam]] is spoken of in the [[Koran]] as "the path" (et-tarik, 4:66), and " the right path" (1:5, 4:174). [[Gesenius]] (Thesaur. page 353) has collected examples of the same expression in other languages and religions. (See [[Road]]). </p>