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ἀκολουθέω

akolouthéō

G190 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To go after or behind someone on a physical path; to accompany or travel with someone. In extended usage, to adhere to or align oneself with another's example, teaching, or leadership, especially as a disciple or follower. The term encompasses both literal following along a road and figurative commitment to a person, cause, or set of teachings.

Semantic Range

to walk behind someone; to go after someone or something; to accompany on a journey; to follow as a disciple; to align oneself with a leader, teaching, or example; to obey or adhere to guidance or instructions

Root / Etymology

From the prefix ἀ- (used as an intensive or as a copulative, here likely as a union indicator) and κέλευθος ('road, way, path'). The term originally meant 'to go on the same way with someone.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀκολουθέω mostly denoted literal following—moving physically after someone along a road or in a procession. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the term expands to metaphorical and idiomatic uses: to 'follow' a teacher, leader, or example, especially in a committed or discipleship sense. In the New Testament, ἀκολουθέω is often used of people physically following Jesus, but also (and increasingly) in the deeper sense of aligning one’s life with his teachings or mission. The word can also be used for following a crowd, a path, abstract principles, or divine will. English translations like 'follow' often fail to capture nuances of loyal allegiance or committed discipleship inherent in the Koine usage, especially in religious or philosophical contexts. See also ἑπόμαι for another verb meaning 'to follow'—generally more neutral and less associated with discipleship or devotion.

Translation Consistency

primary "follow" 87 occurrences

‘Follow’ is the most natural and common English rendering for ἀκολουθέω, covering both literal walking after/with someone and the figurative sense of becoming a disciple or aligning with a teaching/leader. It appears overwhelmingly in existing translations (follow/followed/following) and easily inflects for person and tense while preserving the full semantic range better than alternatives like ‘accompany’ or ‘keep.’

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"follow, all of you" (2x) "accompanying" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from Α (as a particle of union) and (a road); properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (specially, as a disciple):--follow, reach.

Root Family

ἀκολουθέω (akolouthéō) — to go after, to accompany, to follow

Root ἀκολουθ- to go after, to accompany, to follow

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G190-21 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed 18
G190-01 ἀκολούθει akolouthei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG follow Keep following Keep following 16
G190-18 ἠκολούθει ekolouthei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG was following was going after was following 15
G190-22 ἠκολούθησεν ekolouthesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG followed he/she followed he followed 7
G190-14 ἀκολουθοῦντες akolouthountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL following those following those following 4
G190-03 ἀκολουθείτω akoloutheito V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG let him follow let him follow let him follow 4
G190-09 ἀκολουθήσω akoloutheso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I will follow I will follow I will follow 3
G190-17 ἀκολουθοῦσιν akolouthousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL they follow to those following follow 3
G190-04 ἀκολουθῆσαι akolouthesai V AOR ACT INF to follow to go after to follow 2
G190-20 ἠκολουθήσαμέν ekolouthesamen V AOR ACT IND 1P PL followed we followed we followed 2

Occurrences in Scripture

90 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G190-21 Matthew 4:20 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed
G190-21 Matthew 4:22 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed
G190-21 Matthew 4:25 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed
G190-21 Matthew 8:1 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed
G190-17 Matthew 8:10 ἀκολουθοῦσιν akolouthousin V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M PL following to those following to those following
G190-09 Matthew 8:19 ἀκολουθήσω akoloutheso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I will follow I will follow I will follow
G190-01 Matthew 8:22 ἀκολούθει akolouthei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Follow Keep following Keep following
G190-21 Matthew 8:23 ἠκολούθησαν ekolouthesan V AOR ACT IND 3P PL followed they went after they followed
G190-01 Matthew 9:9 ἀκολούθει akolouthei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Follow Keep following Keep following
G190-22 Matthew 9:9 ἠκολούθησεν ekolouthesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG followed he/she followed followed
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