In biblical times, the concept of a "highway" referred to a well-traveled road or path, often elevated or cleared for ease of travel. Highways were significant in the ancient world for facilitating trade, communication, and military movements. In the Bible, highways are mentioned both literally and metaphorically, symbolizing spiritual journeys and divine guidance.

Old Testament References

The term "highway" appears in several Old Testament passages, often in the context of preparing a way for the Lord or for His people. In Isaiah 40:3, a prophetic voice calls out, "Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert." This passage is traditionally understood as a call for spiritual preparation and repentance, later echoed in the New Testament by John the Baptist.

In Isaiah 35:8, the highway is described as a "Way of Holiness," reserved for the redeemed: "And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it, only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it." This highway symbolizes the path of righteousness and purity that leads to God's presence.

New Testament References

The New Testament continues the metaphorical use of highways, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:9), the king instructs his servants, "Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find." Here, the highways and crossroads represent the outreach of the Gospel to all people, emphasizing the inclusivity of God's invitation.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

Highways in the Bible often symbolize the journey of faith and the preparation required to walk in God's ways. They represent the removal of obstacles and the creation of a clear path for spiritual progress. The imagery of a highway suggests a direct and purposeful route, contrasting with the winding and uncertain paths of sin and disobedience.

The concept of a highway also underscores the communal aspect of faith. Just as highways connect cities and regions, the spiritual highway connects believers to one another and to God. It is a path of shared pilgrimage, where the faithful support and encourage each other in their journey toward holiness.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the ancient Near East, highways were crucial for the movement of people and goods. They were often maintained by rulers to ensure the efficient administration of their territories. The presence of a highway could signify prosperity and stability, as it facilitated trade and communication.

In biblical prophecy, the construction of highways often symbolizes the coming of a new era of peace and divine intervention. For example, Isaiah 11:16 speaks of a highway for the remnant of God's people, reminiscent of the exodus from Egypt: "There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt."

Conclusion

The biblical concept of a highway serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers. It calls for preparation, righteousness, and a commitment to follow God's path. Through the imagery of highways, Scripture invites believers to embark on a journey of faith, trusting in God's guidance and provision along the way.A raised road for public use. Such roads were not found in Palestine; hence the force of the language used to describe the return of the captives and the advent of the Messiah (Isaiah 11:16; 35:8; 40:3; 62:10) under the figure of the preparation of a grand thoroughfare for their march.

During their possession of Palestine the Romans constructed several important highways, as they did in all countries which they ruled.

(n.) A road or way open to the use of the public; a main road or thoroughfare.HIGHWAY

hi'-wa.

See ROAD; WAY.

1327. diexodos -- to consider, reflect
... an outlet, a way out From dia and exodos; an outlet through, ie Probably an open
square (from which roads diverge) -- highway. see GREEK dia. see GREEK exodos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1327.htm - 6k

5147. tribos -- a beaten track, a path
... Feminine Transliteration: tribos Phonetic Spelling: (tree'-bos) Short Definition:
a worn path, beaten way Definition: a worn path, beaten way, road, highway. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5147.htm - 7k

4547. maslul -- a highway
... 4546, 4547. maslul. 4548 . a highway. Transliteration: maslul Phonetic
Spelling: (mas-lool') Short Definition: highway. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/4547.htm - 6k

4546. mesillah -- a highway
... 4545, 4546. mesillah. 4547 . a highway. Transliteration: mesillah Phonetic
Spelling: (mes-il-law') Short Definition: highway. Word ...
/hebrew/4546.htm - 6k

2351. chuts -- the outside, a street
... abroad, field, forth, highway, more, outside street, without. Or (shortened)
chuts {khoots}; (both forms feminine in the plural) from ...
/hebrew/2351.htm - 6k

1870. derek -- way, road, distance, journey, manner
... manner NASB Word Usage actions (1), acts (1), conduct (11), course (2), crooked*
(2), direction (4), distance (1), example (1), favors (1), highway (4), highway ...
/hebrew/1870.htm - 6k

5549. salal -- to lift up, cast up
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to lift up, cast up NASB Word Usage build (6),
exalt (1), highway (1), highway* (1), lift (1), pile (1), prize (1). ...
/hebrew/5549.htm - 6k

259. echad -- one
... as an ordinal) first -- a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a
certain, (dai-)ly, each (one), + eleven, every, few, first, + highway, a man ...
/hebrew/259.htm - 7k

734. orach -- a way, path
... manner, highway. From 'arach; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively); also
a caravan -- manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-)way. ...
/hebrew/734.htm - 6k

The Highway
... HYMNS THE HIGHWAY. "The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds'
feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.""Habakkuk 3:19. ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen and others second series/the highway.htm

The King's Highway
... THE KING'S HIGHWAY. 'And an highway shall be there, and a ... path for our feet.
II. The highway that God casts up. Of course that coming ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the kings highway.htm

The King's Highway
... THE KING'S HIGHWAY. 'And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to
get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the kings highway.htm

The King's Highway Opened and Cleared
... The King's Highway Opened and Cleared. A Sermon (No.293). Delivered on Sabbath Morning,
January 8th, 1860, by the. REV. CH SPURGEON. At Exeter Hall, Strand. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the kings highway opened and.htm

Fellow Travellers on Heaven's Highway.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CLIII. Fellow Travellers on Heaven's Highway.
8.8.6.8.8.6 James Montgomery. Fellow Travellers on Heaven's Highway. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn cliii fellow travellers on.htm

The Highway of Holiness
... CHAPTER 4 THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS. One of the things that we must learn if we are
to live the victorious Christian life is its utter simplicity. ... The Highway. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hession/the calvary road/chapter 4 the highway of.htm

1877-1879. "They Helped Every one his Neighbour" --Miss Child, a ...
... CHAPTER VII 1877-1879. "They helped every one his neighbour""Miss Child, a
fellow-labourer "The work in Ratcliff Highway"Strangers' Rest for Sailors ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/lowe/gods answers/chapter vii 1877-1879 they helped.htm

"Who is My Neighbor?"
... was a priest. As he went along the highway he heard a cry of distress,
and he looked to see who was the unfortunate man. He could ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moody/to the work to the work/chapter viii who is my.htm

Bishop Gaudentius Said: These Things Wholesomely, Duly, and Fitly ...
... this decree will be most widely known and best carried into effect, if each of those
bishops among us who have sees on the thoroughfares or highway, on seeing ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon xx bishop gaudentius said .htm

Travelling in Palestine --Roads, Inns, Hospitality, Custom-House ...
... Secondly, there was the old highway along the sea-shore from Egypt up to Tyre, whence
a straight, but not so much frequented, road struck, by Caesarea Philippi ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 4 travelling in palestineroads.htm

Fuller's (4 Occurrences)
... A spot near Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 36:2; 7:3), on the side of the highway
west of the city, not far distant from the "upper pool" at the head of the ...
/f/fuller's.htm - 11k

Travel (25 Occurrences)
... your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink
of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will ...
/t/travel.htm - 14k

Washerman's (3 Occurrences)
... And they went up and came to Jerusalem, and took up their position by the stream
of the higher pool, by the highway of the washerman's field. (BBE NIV). ...
/w/washerman's.htm - 7k

Fullers (4 Occurrences)
... And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool,
which is in the highway of the fuller's field. (See JPS). ...
/f/fullers.htm - 7k

Field (390 Occurrences)
... fool'-ers feld, (sedheh khobhec): In all references occurs "the conduit of the upper
pool, in the highway of the fuller's field"; this must have been a well ...
/f/field.htm - 44k

Conduit (5 Occurrences)
... When they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which
is in the highway of the fuller's field. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/c/conduit.htm - 9k

Way (7551 Occurrences)
... WAY. wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos,
parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The ...
/w/way.htm - 15k

Road (155 Occurrences)
... of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying aloud, 'In
the desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'" (WEY BBE ...
/r/road.htm - 37k

Vine-garden (43 Occurrences)
... 20:17 Let us now go through your land: we will not go into field or vine-garden,
or take the water of the springs; we will go by the highway, not turning to ...
/v/vine-garden.htm - 19k

Limits (69 Occurrences)
... 20:17 Let us now go through your land: we will not go into field or vine-garden,
or take the water of the springs; we will go by the highway, not turning to ...
/l/limits.htm - 27k

What is the highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8)? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God make salvation such a narrow path? | GotQuestions.org

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Highway: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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