In biblical literature, the term "pathway" often symbolizes the journey of life, the choices one makes, and the direction one follows in accordance with God's will. The concept of a pathway is frequently used metaphorically to describe the spiritual and moral journey of individuals and communities.

Old Testament References

The imagery of a pathway is prevalent in the Old Testament, where it is often associated with wisdom, righteousness, and divine guidance. In Proverbs 3:5-6 , the text advises, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Here, the pathway represents a life directed by trust in God, promising divine guidance and clarity.

Psalm 119:105 further emphasizes the importance of God's word in guiding one's path: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." This verse highlights the role of Scripture as a source of illumination and direction, ensuring that the believer's journey aligns with God's will.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, the concept of a pathway continues to be significant, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In Matthew 7:13-14 , Jesus contrasts two paths: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." This passage underscores the idea that the path to eternal life is challenging and requires deliberate choice and commitment.

The Apostle Paul also uses the metaphor of a pathway in his epistles. In Ephesians 2:10 , he writes, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." Here, the pathway is associated with a life of good works, preordained by God, reflecting the believer's purpose and calling.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of a pathway in the Bible is deeply intertwined with the themes of divine guidance, moral responsibility, and the pursuit of righteousness. It suggests that life is a journey with a clear direction set by God, and believers are called to walk in accordance with His commandments and teachings.

The pathway metaphor also implies a dynamic relationship between God and humanity, where God actively participates in guiding and shaping the believer's journey. This is evident in the promise of the Holy Spirit as a guide and helper, as seen in John 16:13 : "However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth."

Practical Application

For believers, the biblical concept of a pathway serves as a reminder to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life. It encourages a life of prayer, study of Scripture, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to discern the right path. The pathway metaphor also calls for vigilance against the temptations and distractions of the broader, easier paths that lead away from God's intended purpose.

In summary, the biblical notion of a pathway is a rich and multifaceted symbol that encapsulates the journey of faith, the pursuit of righteousness, and the assurance of divine guidance for those who trust in the Lord.(n.) A footpath; a beaten track; any path or course. Also used figuratively.PATH; PATHWAY

path, path'-wa (orach, nethibhah, etc.; tribos, trochia):

(1) In the Old Testament.-In addition to its obvious literal sense (e.g. Genesis 49:17), it has very frequently a figurative meaning.

(a) As applied to man, a course or manner of life: (i) man's outward lot in life, his career or destiny, whether of the just man (Isaiah 26:7) or of the ungodly (Job 8:13); (ii) frequently in an ethical sense, of men's conduct or inward life-purpose, whether it be good or evil (e.g. Proverbs 2:15), generally accompanied by a term defining the moral quality of the conduct, either an abstract noun (e.g. "the paths of uprightness," Proverbs 2:13; Proverbs 4:11; "the paths of justice," Proverbs 2:8 Isaiah 40:14; "the paths of life," Psalm 16:11 Proverbs 2:19), or a concrete adjective or noun (e.g. "crooked paths," Isaiah 59:8; "the paths of the righteous," Proverbs 2:20; Proverbs 4:18).

(b) The term is also applied to God either (i) of the methods of the Divine Providence, God's dealings with men (Psalm 25:10; Psalm 65:11), or (ii) of the principles and maxims of religion and morality divinely revealed to man ("Show me thy ways, O Yahweh, teach me thy paths," Psalm 25:4; compare Isaiah 2:3).

(2) In the Apocrypha we have the "paths" of Wisdom (tribos, Baruch 3:21, 31); the "path" shown to men by the Law (semita, 2 Esdras 14:22); and a man's "paths" (tribos, Tobit 4:10).

(3) In the New Testament the word occurs only in Matthew 3:3 and parallel passages Mark 1:3 Luke 3:4 (of the forerunner's work), and in Hebrews 12:13 (in the Old Testament ethical sense).

Pathway occurs in Proverbs 12:28 (derekh nethibhah) and The Wisdom of Solomon 5:10 (atrapos).

See WAY.

D. Miall Edwards

4074. Petros -- "a stone" or "a boulder," Peter, one of the twelve ...
... Greek name meaning rock. 4074 (a noun) -- properly, a stone (pebble), such
as a small rock found along a pathway. 4074 ("small stone ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4074.htm - 7k5410a. nathib -- path, pathway
... 5410, 5410a. nathib. 5410b . path, pathway. Transliteration: nathib Short
Definition: path. Word Origin from an unused word Definition ...
/hebrew/5410a.htm - 5k

5410. nathiyb -- path, pathway
... 5409, 5410. nathiyb. 5410a . path, pathway. Transliteration: nathiyb Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-theeb') Short Definition: path. pathway, traveller, way ...
/hebrew/5410.htm - 5k

5410b. nethibah -- path, pathway
... 5410a, 5410b. nethibah. 5411 . path, pathway. Transliteration: nethibah
Short Definition: paths. Word Origin from the same as nathib ...
/hebrew/5410b.htm - 5k

4095. madregah -- steep place, a steep
... 4094b, 4095. madregah. 4096 . steep place, a steep. Transliteration: madregah
Phonetic Spelling: (mad-ray-gaw') Short Definition: pathway. ...
/hebrew/4095.htm - 6k

1870. derek -- way, road, distance, journey, manner
... example (1), favors (1), highway (4), highway* (1), impulses (1), journey (37),
line (1), manner (4), mission (2), path (4), pathless* (2), pathway (1), pathway ...
/hebrew/1870.htm - 6k

The Pathway In.
... Gethsemane: The Strange, Lone Struggle The Pathway In. Great events always send
messengers ahead. There is a movement in the spirit currents. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/the pathway in.htm

The Pathway of the Holy
... VII The Pathway of the Holy. ... We want to help you to walk in what Isaiah calls 'The
way of Holiness', or in modern terms, the pathway of the holy. ...
/.../howard/standards of life and service/vii the pathway of the.htm

The Heavenly Pathway and the Earthly Heart
... GENESIS THE HEAVENLY PATHWAY AND THE EARTHLY HEART. 'And Jacob went out
from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. And he lighted upon ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the heavenly pathway and the.htm

The Bright Pathway. December 28.
... The bright Pathway. December 28. There is a healthy ferment of mind in
which one struggles through chaos and darkness, by means ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /the bright pathway december 28.htm

God's Pathway to Human Hearts.
... Why the Results are Delayed God's Pathway to Human Hearts. God touches men through
men. The Spirit's path to a human heart is through another human heart. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/gods pathway to human hearts.htm

O Light of Lights Around My Pathway Shining,
... MEDITATIONS O Light of lights around my pathway shining,. tr., John Brownlie
11.4.11.4.10.10. I. O Light of lights around my pathway shining,. Brighter than ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the apostolic church/o light of lights around.htm

Tarshish or Nineveh?
... With greatest reverence let it be said that God must use a human pathway for His
feet. ... The pathway of His helping feet is always a common human pathway. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/tarshish or nineveh.htm

Augustin Calls on victor to Correct his Errors. (See Above in Book ...
... purpose to transfer one's self readily to truer views; so it shows a depraved and
obstinate judgment to refuse to return promptly to the pathway of reason ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 20 xiv augustin calls on.htm

Fire! Fire! Fire!
... We shall talk of three things, this morning, as the Holy Ghost may enable us; first
of all, a terrible pathway,"walking around the fire; secondly, an awful ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/fire fire fire.htm

The King's Highway Opened and Cleared
... You have sometimes seen, perhaps, the newly-invented engine in the streets, the
locomotive that lays down its own pathway and then picks it up again. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the kings highway opened and.htm

Pathway (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PATH; PATHWAY. ...Pathway occurs in Proverbs 12:28
(derekh nethibhah) and The Wisdom of Solomon 5:10 (atrapos). See WAY. ...
/p/pathway.htm - 10k

Path (91 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PATH; PATHWAY. ...Pathway occurs in Proverbs 12:28
(derekh nethibhah) and The Wisdom of Solomon 5:10 (atrapos). See WAY. ...
/p/path.htm - 33k

Pathways (1 Occurrence)

/p/pathways.htm - 6k

Ark (212 Occurrences)
... of the host (Numbers 4:5, 6; 10:33-36; Psalm 68:1; 132:8). It was borne by the priests
into the bed of the Jordan, which separated, opening a pathway for the ...
/a/ark.htm - 84k

Paths (65 Occurrences)

/p/paths.htm - 24k

Way (7551 Occurrences)
... It is always used in the literal sense except in Proverbs 15:19; Proverbs 16:17,
where it is a course of conduct. See also PATH, PATHWAY. WC Morro. WAY, LITTLE. ...
/w/way.htm - 15k

Exodus (2 Occurrences)
... Under the direction of God the children of Israel went "forward" from the camp
"before Pi-hahiroth," and the sea opened a pathway for them, so that they ...
/e/exodus.htm - 82k

Babel (3 Occurrences)
... level of Aa-ibur-sabu from the "holy gate" to the gate of Nana; together with the
gateways (in consequence of the higher level of the pathway) through which it ...
/b/babel.htm - 63k

Babylon (270 Occurrences)
... level of Aa-ibur-sabu from the "holy gate" to the gate of Nana; together with the
gateways (in consequence of the higher level of the pathway) through which it ...
/b/babylon.htm - 93k

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Pathway: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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