Lexical Summary stoicheó: To walk in line, to follow, to conform, to live according to. Original Word: στοιχέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance walk orderly. From a derivative of steicho (to range in regular line); to march in (military) rank (keep step), i.e. (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety -- walk (orderly). HELPS Word-studies 4748 stoixéō (from stoixos, "a row, line, or rank") – properly, walk in line, in strict accordance to a particular pace ("stride"); walk in cadence, "keep in step." NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom stoichos (a row) Definition to be in rows, fig. to walk by rule NASB Translation follow (1), living (1), walk (2), walk orderly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4748: στοιχέωστοιχέω, στοίχω; future στοιχήσω; (στοῖχος a row, series); a. to proceed in a row, go in order: Xenophon, Cyril 6,3,34; metaphorically, to go on prosperously, to turn out well: of things, Ecclesiastes 11:6 for כָּשֵׁר. b. to walk: with a locative dative (Winers Grammar, § 31, 1 a. cf. p. 219 (205); yet cf. Buttmann, § 133, 22 b.). τοῖς ἴχνεσι τίνος, in the steps of one, i. e. follow his example, Romans 4:12; to direct one's life, to live, with a dative of the rule (Buttmann, as above), εἰ πνεύματι ... στοιχῶμεν, if the Holy Spirit animates us (see ζάω, I. 3 under the end), let us exhibit that control of the Spirit in our life, Galatians 5:25; τῷ κανόνι, according to the rule, Galatians 6:16; τῷ αὐτῷ (where Rec. adds κανόνι, Philippians 3:16 (Winers Grammar, § 43, 5 d.; cf. Buttmann, § 140, 18 at the end), (τῷ παραδειγματι τίνος, Clement, hom. 10, 15); with a participle denoting the manner of acting, στοιχεῖς τόν νόμον φυλάσσων, so walkest as to keep the law (A. V. walkest orderly, keeping etc.), Acts 21:24. (On the word and its construction see Fritzsche on Romans, vol. iii., p. 142. Compare: Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 4748 encapsulates the idea of walking in line with an established standard. The verb is rare—appearing only five times—but it frames a key New Testament call: to order one’s life in precise harmony with God’s revealed pattern. Old Testament Roots of the Motif The Hebrew Scriptures continually urge God’s people to “walk” (halak) in His ways. This covenantal idea of patterned movement provides the backdrop for the New Testament usage. What the Law prefigured through statutes, the Gospel now supplies through the indwelling Spirit, enabling an ordered life that mirrors the Creator’s righteousness. Occurrences in the New Testament Jewish believers in Jerusalem are shown to be “walking in orderly observance of the Law.” Here the term highlights visible, communal alignment with the Mosaic standard—disarming rumors that Paul taught Jews to abandon Torah. Abraham is “the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had.” The stress is on reproducible faith: true descendants trace the precise steps of saving belief, not merely external markers. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.” The Spirit supplies life; believers must now keep strict cadence with that life, rejecting both legalism and license. “All who will follow this rule—peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” The “rule” (kanōn) is the new-creation principle just expounded. Blessing rests on those who align their walk with this eschatological reality. “Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.” Past progress in Christ sets the benchmark; believers must keep marching in line with revealed light, neither regressing nor devising their own path. Theological Significance 1. Continuity and Progression: The verb links Old Covenant order with New Covenant empowerment. The grace that saves also structures the believer’s conduct. Historical Significance in Early Christianity The early church lived at the intersection of Jewish tradition and Greco-Roman pluralism. This verb served as bridge vocabulary: for Jewish Christians it echoed orderly Torah observance; for Gentile converts it depicted disciplined citizenship in a heavenly commonwealth. Apostolic fathers adopted similar language to stress orthopraxy alongside orthodoxy. Implications for Discipleship and Ministry • Personal Sanctification: Evaluate every habit, thought, and affection by the Spirit’s rhythm, discarding whatever breaks formation. Summary Strong’s 4748 portrays the believer’s life as a disciplined march in harmony with God’s revealed standard—first foreshadowed in the Law, fulfilled and empowered by the Spirit, and essential for corporate unity and credible witness until faith becomes sight. Forms and Transliterations εστοιχισμέναι στοιχειν στοιχείν στοιχεῖν στοιχεις στοιχείς στοιχεῖς στοιχήσει στοιχησουσιν στοιχήσουσιν στοιχούσι στοιχουσιν στοιχοῦσιν στοιχωμεν στοιχώμεν στοιχῶμεν stoichein stoicheîn stoicheis stoicheîs stoichesousin stoichēsousin stoichḗsousin stoichomen stoichômen stoichōmen stoichō̂men stoichousin stoichoûsinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 21:24 V-PIA-2SGRK: ἔστιν ἀλλὰ στοιχεῖς καὶ αὐτὸς NAS: also walk orderly, keeping KJV: also walkest orderly, and keepest INT: is but you walk orderly also yourself Romans 4:12 V-PPA-DMP Galatians 5:25 V-PSA-1P Galatians 6:16 V-FIA-3P Philippians 3:16 V-PNA Strong's Greek 4748 |
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