Strong's Greek: 3280 -- (Not Used)zzz

Lexical Summary

(Not Used): (Not Used)

(Not Used)
Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
(Not Used)

Topical Lexicon

Root Idea Of ὁδοιπορία

Emerging from ὁδός (“way”) and πορεία (“going”), the compound denotes the act of traveling along a road. Although the noun itself never appears in the Greek New Testament, its conceptual field pervades Scripture: pilgrimage, exile, military movement, prophetic itinerancy, and the missionary advance of the Gospel. In every era the covenant people are pictured “on the way,” whether literally journeying or spiritually progressing toward God’s purposes.

Old Testament Precedent

1. Patriarchal sojourning – Abraham “went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8), modeling trustful journeying that set the pattern for a pilgrim people.
2. Exodus and wilderness trek – Israel’s forty-year march (Exodus 13-40; Numbers 14-36) provides the quintessential corporate ὁδοιπορία, shaping worship calendars (Feast of Tabernacles), ethical memory, and hymnic reflection (Psalm 114).
3. Festival pilgrimages – Three annual ascents to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16) framed individual devotion; the “Songs of Ascents” (Psalms 120-134) embody the liturgy of the road.
4. Prophetic symbolism – Isaiah’s barefoot walk (Isaiah 20:2-4) and Ezekiel’s mock exile (Ezekiel 12:1-7) dramatize judgment and hope through enacted journeys.

The Road In The Gospels

Jesus’ earthly ministry is relentlessly mobile:
• Galilean circuits (Mark 6:6-13)
• Transitional “way” to Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27)
• The resolute march to Jerusalem: “When the days were nearing for Him to be taken up, He resolutely set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

Along these roads He teaches, heals, calls disciples, and meets the marginalized (Luke 24:13-35). Thus physical travel becomes the classroom for revelation and discipleship.

Apostolic Missionary Journeys

While Luke never uses ὁδοιπορία, the book of Acts is structured by journeys:

1. Peter’s visits from Jerusalem to Lydda, Joppa, and Caesarea (Acts 9-11).
2. Paul’s three missionary circuits (Acts 13-21) and final voyage to Rome (Acts 27-28).
3. “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers” (Acts 16:5).

The term captures the logistical challenges—storms, robbers, distance—and the divine appointments that turned roads into corridors of grace.

Spiritual Pilgrimage Motif

Scripture converts the literal road into a metaphor for life with God:
• Wisdom literature: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).
• Prophetic promise: “A highway will be there, and it will be called the Way of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8).
• Apostolic exhortation: “Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear” (1 Peter 1:17).

Thus every believer engages in an inner ὁδοιπορία toward maturity, holiness, and the heavenly city (Hebrews 13:14).

Early Christian And Patristic Usage

Second-century writings employ ὁδοιπορία for:
• Literal ministry travel (e.g., Ignatius’ Epistles describing his guarded advance to Rome).
• Allegorical preaching—The Shepherd of Hermas portrays life’s voyage requiring vigilance.

Such usage shows continuity between apostolic mission and emerging church life.

Practical Ministry Insights

1. Missional mindset – Churches imitate apostolic mobility by sending workers and resources beyond local borders.
2. Hospitality – Because travelers depend on hosts (Romans 12:13; 3 John 5-8), believers are called to open homes and wallets for those “on the road for the sake of the Name.”
3. Perseverance – Physical hardship of ancient travel underlines modern call to endurance: “Let us run with perseverance the race set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Related New Testament Terms

• ὁδός – “way” (frequent; John 14:6).
• πορεύομαι – “to go” (e.g., Matthew 28:19).
• ὁδοιπόρος – “traveler” (Luke 10:33).

Together they convey the same thematic tapestry that ὁδοιπορία would have supplied had it been chosen by the inspired authors.

Summary

Though absent from the canonical Greek text, ὁδοιπορία crystallizes the biblical portrait of God’s people as wayfarers: redeemed from bondage, guided by divine presence, carrying the Gospel to the ends of the earth, and pressing toward the New Jerusalem. Its legacy encourages believers to embrace every road—literal or figurative—as an ordained context for faith, obedience, and witness.

Links

Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts