πορεύομαι

περιπατέω peripatéō · G4043 · to walk, to go, to live

Both verbs denote literal walking or traveling and extend figuratively to describe conduct of life. περιπατέω emphasizes walking about or ambulatory movement as evidence of ability, while πορεύομαι more commonly denotes directed travel or departure toward a destination, though both are used interchangeably for general motion and ethical conduct in New Testament contexts.

הָלַךְ hâlak · H1980 · to move, to go, to walk

Greek πορεύομαι and Hebrew הָלַךְ are both the primary verbs for motion — 'to go, walk, travel' — in their respective languages, and both extend metaphorically to departure, including death, making them consistent translation equivalents.

To move, to go15.10

The verb most generally describes movement from one place to another. Matthew's account of the magi describes their departure toward Bethlehem: “And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him'” (Matthew 2:8, where the underlying participle names their setting out).

To travel, to journey, to be on one’s way15.18

The same verb can more specifically describe traveling or journeying, especially over a distance. Luke's account of Paul's own testimony before Agrippa uses this term: “as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers, and started off for Damascus” (Acts 22:5, where the underlying verb names his journey there).

To go away, to leave15.34

The verb can also describe departure or leaving a place. Matthew's account of the Olivet Discourse's setting records this transition: “Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him” (Matthew 24:1).

To leave this life, to die, death, departure23.101

Used euphemistically, the verb can describe departure from this life in death. John's account of Jesus's Upper Room discourse uses this term of His own approaching death and return to the Father: “‘You heard that I said to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I’” (John 14:28).

To live, to behave, to go about doing41.11

The verb can also describe conducting one's life or behaving in a certain manner, an idiomatic extension of ‘walking’ or ‘going about.’ Luke's introduction of Zechariah and Elizabeth uses this term: “They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” (Luke 1:6).

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

Also from the root πέραν

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.