Walk

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: περιπατέω (Strong'S #4043 — Verb — peripateo — per-ee-pat-eh'-o )

is used (a) physically, in the Synoptic Gospels (except  Mark 7:5 ); always in the Acts except in  Acts 21:21; never in the Pauline Epistles, nor in those of John; (b) figuratively, "signifying the whole round of the activities of the individual life, whether of the unregenerate,  Ephesians 4:17 , or of the believer,  1 Corinthians 7:17;  Colossians 2:6 . It is applied to the observance of religious ordinances,  Acts 21:21;  Hebrews 13:9 , marg., as well as to moral conduct. The Christian is to walk in newness of life,  Romans 6:4 , after the spirit,  Romans 8:4 , in honesty,  Romans 13:13 , by faith,  2 Corinthians 5:7 , in good works,  Ephesians 2:10 , in love,  Ephesians 5:2 , in wisdom,  Colossians 4:5 , in truth,  2 John 1:4 , after the commandments of the Lord,  2 John 1:6 . And, negatively, not after the flesh,  Romans 8:4; not after the manner of men,  1 Corinthians 3:3; not in craftiness,  2 Corinthians 4:2; not by sight,  2 Thessalonians 5:7; not in the vanity of the mind,  Ephesians 4:17; not disorderly,  2 Thessalonians 3:6 ." * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 67.] See Go , Note (2) (r).

2: πορεύομαι (Strong'S #4198 — Verb — poreuo — por-yoo'-om-ahee )

for which see Depart , No. 8, and GO, No. 1, is used in the Middle Voice and rendered "to walk" in  Luke 1:6 , of the general activities of life; so in  Luke 13:33 , AV, "walk" (RV, "go on My way");  Acts 9:31;  14:16;  1 Peter 4:3;  2 Peter 2:10; Jude, 1:16,18.

3: ἐμπεριπατέω (Strong'S #1704 — Verb — emperipateo — em-per-ee-pat-eh'-o )

"to walk about in, or among" (en, "in," and No. 1), is used in  2 Corinthians 6:16 , of the activities of God in the lives of believers.

4: στοιχέω (Strong'S #4748 — Verb — stoicheo — stoy-kheh'-o )

from stoichos, "a row," signifies "to walk in line," and is used metaphorically of "walking" in relation to others (No. 1 is used more especially of the individual walk); in  Acts 21:24 , it is translated "walkest orderly;" in  Romans 4:12 , "walk (in ... steps);" in  Galatians 5:25 it is used of walking "by the Spirit," RV, in an exhortation to keep step with one another in submission of heart to the Holy Spirit, and therefore of keeping step with Christ, the great means of unity and harmony in a church (contrast No. 1 in   Galatians 5:16; ver. 25 begins a new section which extends to 6:10); in  Galatians 6:16 it is used of walking by the rule expressed in   Galatians 6:14,15; in  Philippians 3:16 the reference is to the course pursued by the believer who makes "the prize of the high calling" the object of his ambition. In the Sept.,   Ecclesiastes 11:6 .

5: διέρχομαι (Strong'S #1330 — Verb — dierchomai — dee-er'-khom-ahee )

"to go through" (dia), is rendered "to walk through" in the AV of  Matthew 12:43;  Luke 11:24 (RV, "passeth through"). See Come , No. 5, PASS, No. 2.

6: ὀρθοποδέω (Strong'S #3716 — Verb — orthopodeo — or-thop-od-eh'-o )

"to walk in a straight path" (orthos, "straight," pous, "a foot"), is used metaphorically in  Galatians 2:14 , signifying a "course of conduct" by which one leaves a straight track for others to follow ("walked ... uprightly").

 Mark 1:16

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

The verb "walk" in its literal sense of going along or moving about on foot at a moderate pace is found numerous times in the Gospels. However, this same verb is more often used throughout the Old Testament and the epistles of the New Testament in a metaphorical way. In this sense it means to follow a certain course of life or to conduct oneself in a certain way. Many times the verb translated "walk" is present tense in the Greek of the New Testament, which means that the writer is referring to a continued mode of conduct or behavior. In fact, the infinitive "to walk" can be translated, in a Hebraistic way, "to live." Such a use is common in the Old Testament and the writings of Paul and of John, but is not found in those of Peter or James.

Throughout the New Testament, the verb "walk" is qualified in various ways to ensure that the reader understands what correct Christian living or conduct is and what it is not. Christians are not to continue to walk in darkness ( 1 John 1:6;  2:11 ). What John means is that Christians should not continue living in ignorance of divine truth, an ignorance that is associated with sin and its evil results. Along with this, their walk should not be characterized by craftiness and cunning ( 2 Corinthians 4:2 ) or by such sins as immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, sins, the writer says, which used to characterize their continual living before salvation ( Colossians 3:5-7 ).

To the contrary, Christian living should be characterized by newness of life ( Romans 6:4 ), good works ( Ephesians 2:10 ), love ( Ephesians 5:2 ), wisdom ( Colossians 4:5 ), truth ( 3 John 4 ), and obedience to the light received from the apostle ( 1 Thessalonians 4:10 ).

The standard of victorious Christian living is stated two different ways by the apostle Paul. His dominant theme in  Romans 8 is that the Christian is not to continue walking "according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit" (v. 4; see also vv. 12-13). The sinful nature in this expression is not bodily, material flesh but that ethical flesh, which refers to the sin dwelling in the Christian, as referred to in   Romans 7:17,20 ,  21,23 . It is the nature of humankind, apart from the supernatural influences of the Holy Spirit; and this corrupt sinful nature, the core of which is selfishness, must not govern our conduct. In other words, Paul writes that the Christian should not live in accordance with the age to which this world belongs ( Ephesians 2:2 ). The mature Christian will walk in accordance with the Holy Spirit's leading ( Romans 8:4 ) via the Lord's commands given to him in the Scriptures (2John). This leading is not some ethereal, mystical kind of guidance but comes in the form of clear "Thou shalts" and "Thou shalt nots."

In addition to writing the instruction given above, the New Testament writers do not leave maturing Christians in the dark as to the manner of walking that is expected from them. They are not to keep on walking as the nations or Gentiles outside Christ do ( Ephesians 4:17 ). The apostle Paul thereby lets his readers know that he expects a different lifestyle from Christians than from non-Christians. They are not to conduct their lives in an unruly or disorderly fashion, deviating from the prescribed kind of life or rule given by the apostles in the Bible ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6,11 ). Some Christians in Thessalonica, because of wrong beliefs about the second coming of Christ, had given up their Jobs and were sponging off the other church members. Paul reminds the church that this should not be tolerated and that the one who does not work should not be allowed to eat at the expense of the others.

To the contrary, the members of the faith should continue walking decently and properly, as in the daylight ( Romans 13:13 ), not in carousing, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sensuality, strife, or jealousy. The deeds of darkness must be put away and the armor of the light needs to be put on ( Romans 13:12 ). They should walk worthy of their calling as Christians ( Ephesians 4:1 ). They should walk as children of the light who have the lamp of the Bible for their guidance ( Ephesians 5:8 ). Furthermore, they should walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of the time because the days are evil. They should behave circumspectly and with great care and understanding of what the will of the Lord is ( Ephesians 5:15-17 ). In addition, they ought to walk in a manner that is suitable and worthy of God, whose children they are ( Ephesians 4:1 ). A Christian should continue walking decently and properly with reference to those outside the church ( 1 Thessalonians 4:12 ). Finally, the Christian should continue behaving in this world, as much as possible, as Christ behaved ( 1 John 2:6 ) and as Paul, in his own life, exemplified a pattern of Christian living ( Philippians 3:17 ).

In  2 Corinthians 5:7 Paul described the means of the Christian's walk or behavior which he describes in his epistles. He succinctly says, "We live by faith, not by sight." To walk by faith means to rely on Christ for one's own salvation and to trust that the promises found in the Bible, God's Word, are dependable and will be faithfully fulfilled. Paul also wrote the Galatians that they should continue walking by the Spirit (  Galatians 5:16 ).

From both the Old and New Testament references, it is clear that the metaphorical or figurative use of the English verb, "walk, " refers to conduct or behavior which, it is insisted, should support one's verbal testimony. The metaphorical use of the word "walk" in the Bible refers to the way in which an individual lives or conducts his or her life; and regularly, the Christian's walk will be in stark contrast to that of the unbeliever's.

Wesley L. Gerig

See also Ethics; Sanctification; Spirituality

King James Dictionary

WALK, G., to full, to felt hats a fuller to stir, to be agitated, to rove, to travel, to wander, to roll. Our ancestors appropriated the verb to moving on the feet, and the word is peculiarly expressive of that rolling or wagging motion which marks the walk of clownish people.

1. To move slowly on the feet to step slowly along to advance by steps moderately repeated as animals. Walking in men differs from running only in the rapidity and length of the steps but in quadrupeds, the motion or order of the feet is sometimes changed.

At the end of twelve months, he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.  Daniel 4 .

When Peter had come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.  Matthew 14 .

2. To move or go on the feet for exercise or amusement. Hundreds of students daily walk on Downing terrace in Cambridge. 3. To appear, as a specter.

The spirits of the dead may walk again.

4. To act on any occasion.

Do you think Id walk in any plot?

5. To be in motion, as a clamorous tongue.

Her tongue did walk in foul reproach.

6. To act or move on the feet in sleep.

When was it she last walkd? But this is unusual. When we speak of noctambulation, we say, to walk in sleep.

7. To range to be stirring.

Affairs that walk, as they say spirits do at midnight. Unusual.

8. To move off to depart.

When he comes forth he will make their cows and garrans walk. Not elegant.

9. In Scripture, to live and act or behave to pursue a particular course of life.

To walk with God, to live in obedience to his commands, and have communion with him.  Genesis 5 .

To walk in darkness, to live in ignorance, error and sin, without comfort.  1 John 1 .

To walk in the light, to live int he practice of religion, and to enjoy its consolations.  1 John 1 .

To walk by faith, to live in the firm belief of the gospel and its promises, and to rely on Christ for salvation.  2 Corinthians 5 .

To walk through the fire, to be exercised with severe afflictions.  Isaiah 43 .

To walk after the flesh, to indulge sensual appetites, and to live in sin.  Romans 8 .

To walk after the Spirit, to be guided by the counsels and influences of the Spirit and by the word of God, and to live a life of holy deportment.

To walk in the flesh, to live this natural life, which is subject to infirmities and calamities.  2 Corinthians 10 .

To walk in, to enter, as a house. Walk in, gentlemen.

WALK, wauk.

1. To pass through or upon as, to walk the streets. This is elliptical for to walk in or through the street. 2. To cause to walk or step slowly to lead, drive or ride with a slow pace. He found the road so bad he was obliged to walk his horse. The coachman walked his horses from Woodbridge to Princeton.

WALK, n. Wauk.

1. The act of walking the act of moving on the feet with a slow pace. 2. The act of walking for air or exercise as a morning walk an evening walk. 3. Manner of walking gait step. We often know a person in a distant apartment by his walk. 4. Length of way or circuit through which one walks or a place for walking as a long walk a short walk. The gardens of the Tuilerie and of the Luxemburgh are very pleasant walks. 5. An avenue set with trees. 6. Way road range place of wandering.

The mountains are his walks.

The starry walks above.

7. Region space.

He opened a boundless walk for his imagination.

8. Course of life or pursuit. This is not within the walk of the historian. 9. The slowest pace of a horse, ox or other quadruped. 10. A fish. A mistake for whelk. 11. In the West Indies, a plantation of canes, &c.

A sheep walk, so called, is high and dry land where sheep pasture.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of OT Words

A. Verb.

Hâlak (הָלַךְ, Strong'S #1980), “to go, walk, behave.” This verb appears in most Semitic languages (although it has a different meaning in Arabic). It is attested in all periods of Hebrew. Old Testament Hebrew attests it about 1,550 times, while the Aramaic uses it a few times.

Essentially, this root refers to movement without any suggestion of direction in the sense of going, whether of man (Gen. 9:23), beasts (Gen. 3:14), or inanimate objects (Gen. 2:14— the first occurrence of the word). In cases other than men (where it means “to walk”) hâlak may be translated “to go.” It is used sometimes with a special emphasis on the end or goal of the action in mind; men are but flesh, “a wind that passeth [goes] away, and cometh not again” (Ps. 78:39). Applied to human existence the word suggests “going to one’s death,” as in Gen. 15:2, when Abraham says: “O Lord God, what wilt thou give me, since I am [going to my death] childless …?” (NASB). This verb can also be used of one’s behavior, or the way one “walks in life.” So he who “walks” uprightly shall be blessed of God (Isa. 33:15). This does not refer to walking upright on one’s feet but to living a righteous life.

This root is used in various other special ways. It may be used to emphasize that a certain thing occurred; Jacob went and got the kid his mother requested, in other words, he actually did the action (Gen. 27:14). In Gen. 8:3 the waters of the flood steadily receded from the surface of the earth. Sometimes this verb implies movement away from, as in Gen. 18:33, when the Lord “departed” from Abraham.

God is said to “walk” or “go in three senses. First, there are certain cases where He assumed some kind of physical form. For example, Adam and Eve heard the sound of God “walking” to and fro in the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8). He “walks” on the clouds (Ps. 104:3) or in the heavens (Job 22:14); these are probably anthropomorphisms (God is spoken of as if He had bodily parts). Even more often God is said to accompany His people (Exod. 33:14), to go to redeem (deliver) them from Egypt (2 Sam. 7:23), and to come to save them (Ps. 80:2). The idea of God’s “going” (“walking”) before His people in the pillars of fire and cloud (Exod. 13:21) leads to the idea that His people must “walk” behind Him (Deut. 13:5). Quite often the people are said to have “walked” or to be warned against “walking behind” foreign gods (Deut. 4:3). Thus, the rather concrete idea of following God through the wilderness moves to “walking behind” Him spiritually. Some scholars suggest that “walking behind” pagan gods (or even the true God) arose from the pagan worship where the god was carried before the people as they entered the sanctuary. Men may also “walk … after the imagination of their evil heart,” or act stubbornly (Jer. 3:17). The pious followed or practiced God’s commands; they “walked” in righteousness (Isa. 33:15), in humility (Mic. 6:8), and in integrity (Ps. 15:2). They also “walk with God” (Gen. 5:22), and they live in His presence, and “walk before” Him (Gen. 17:1), in the sense of living responsibly before Him.

B. Nouns.

Hălı̂ykâh (הֲלִיכָה, Strong'S #1979), “course; doings; traveling company; caravan; procession.” This noun occurs 6 times in the Old Testament. This word conveys several nuances. In Nah. 2:5 hălı̂ykâh refers to a “course”: “He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk.…” The word means “doings” in Prov. 31:27. It may also mean “traveling-company” or “caravan as in Job 6:19 or a “procession as in Ps. 68:24.

Several other related nouns occur infrequently. Mahalak , which appears 5 times, means “passage” (Ezek. 42:4) and “journey” (Neh. 2:6). Helek occurs twice and means a “visitor” (2 Sam. 12:4). Halik appears once with the meaning “steps” (Job 29:6). Tahalukot occurs once to mean “procession,” specifically a thanksgiving procession (Neh. 12:31).

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A frequented track; habitual place of action; sphere; as, the walk of the historian.

(2): ( n.) That in or through which one walks; place or distance walked over; a place for walking; a path or avenue prepared for foot passengers, or for taking air and exercise; way; road; hence, a place or region in which animals may graze; place of wandering; range; as, a sheep walk.

(3): ( v. i.) To move or go on the feet for exercise or amusement; to take one's exercise; to ramble.

(4): ( n.) Conduct; course of action; behavior.

(5): ( v. i.) To move along on foot; to advance by steps; to go on at a moderate pace; specifically, of two-legged creatures, to proceed at a slower or faster rate, but without running, or lifting one foot entirely before the other touches the ground.

(6): ( n.) The route or district regularly served by a vender; as, a milkman's walk.

(7): ( n.) The act of walking for recreation or exercise; as, a morning walk; an evening walk.

(8): ( n.) The act of walking, or moving on the feet with a slow pace; advance without running or leaping.

(9): ( v. t.) To subject, as cloth or yarn, to the fulling process; to full.

(10): ( v. t.) To cause to walk; to lead, drive, or ride with a slow pace; as to walk one's horses.

(11): ( v. t.) To pass through, over, or upon; to traverse; to perambulate; as, to walk the streets.

(12): ( v. i.) To move off; to depart.

(13): ( v. i.) To behave; to pursue a course of life; to conduct one's self.

(14): ( v. i.) To be in motion; to act; to move; to wag.

(15): ( v. i.) To be stirring; to be abroad; to go restlessly about; - said of things or persons expected to remain quiet, as a sleeping person, or the spirit of a dead person; to go about as a somnambulist or a specter.

(16): ( n.) Manner of walking; gait; step; as, we often know a person at a distance by his walk.

(17): ( n.) An inclosed area of some extent to which a gamecock is confined to prepare him for fighting.

(18): ( v. t.) To move in a manner likened to walking.

(19): ( v. t.) To put or keep (a puppy) in a walk; to train (puppies) in a walk.

(20): ( n.) A place for keeping and training puppies.

(21): ( n.) In coffee, coconut, and other plantations, the space between them.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

The Bible sometimes speaks of people’s conduct or manner of life as their ‘way’ or ‘walk’. The two expressions are closely connected: people move along a way by walking ( Leviticus 26:23-24;  1 Kings 6:12;  2 Kings 20:3;  Proverbs 8:20;  Proverbs 20:7;  Acts 9:31;  Ephesians 2:10;  Ephesians 5:2;  1 John 2:11).

Frequently, the Bible uses the word ‘walk’ when contrasting people’s way of life before they were Christians with their new life in Christ ( Romans 6:4;  Ephesians 2:1-2;  Ephesians 5:8;  Colossians 3:7-8). Their new way of life is controlled by the Spirit, not by the flesh ( Romans 8:4;  Galatians 5:16;  Galatians 5:25). It is characterized by love, not by selfishness ( Romans 14:15;  Romans 14:19), and is influenced by the person in whom they believe, not by the things they see in the world around them ( John 12:35;  2 Corinthians 5:7). It is lived in fellowship with God rather than in obedience to sin ( 1 John 1:6-7), and is patterned on the life of Christ rather than on the life of their fellows ( 1 John 2:6;  1 John 2:11;  2 John 1:6). (See also Way .)

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

This word in its typical meaning refers to the manner of life and to the path pursued through life.

 Genesis 24:40 (a) This man of GOD lived a life according to the will of GOD, and kept himself by faith in the presence of GOD. The same is true of Enoch as in  Genesis 5:22. Also of Noah in  Genesis 6:9.

 1 Kings 6:12 (a) The same thought is found in this passage. The manner of life of Israel was to be in observance of the Word of GOD, and the will of GOD, as revealed in the law. (See also  Ezekiel 33:15;  Zechariah 3:7).

 Galatians 5:16 (a) Again the manner of life is described in this passage, as also in  Ephesians 5:2, and  Ephesians 5:8.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Is often figuratively used to denote a man's mode of life, or his spiritual character, course, and relations,  Ezekiel 11:20 . He may walk as a carnal or as a spiritual man,  Romans 8:1; with God, or in ignorance and sin,  Genesis 5:24   1 John 5:21; in the fire of affliction,  Isaiah 43:2 , or in the light, purity, and joy of Christ's favor here and in heaven,  Psalm 89:15   Revelation 3:4 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 2:5 Matthew 4:18 Genesis 5:24 Romans 8:4 1 John 1:6-7

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Christian Life.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wôk ( περιπατεῖν , peripateı́n ): Aside from its frequent occurrence in the usual sense, the word "walk" is used figuratively of conduct and of spiritual states. (1) Observance of laws or customs: "Thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs" (  Acts 21:21 ). (2) Of the spiritual life: "If we walk in the light, as he is in the light" ( 1 John 1:7 ); "That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" ( Romans 6:4 ); "Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" ( Galatians 5:16 ); "For we walk by faith, not by sight" ( 2 Corinthians 5:7 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Walk'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/w/walk.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.