πεζεύω
pezeúō
G3978 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To travel by land, specifically to journey on foot as opposed to by sea or with a vehicle; to go afoot. Primary sense involves the physical act of walking or making a journey overland, giving emphasis to movement accomplished using one’s feet rather than by riding or sailing. More rarely, may simply emphasize mode of travel rather than destination or motive.
Semantic Range
to go on foot, to travel by land (as distinct from by sea), to make an overland journey, to travel a route without riding or sailing
Root / Etymology
From πεζῇ (by foot, on foot), an adverb derived from the adjective πεζός (on foot; pedestrial), itself from the root πεζ- referring to walking or going by foot. Cognate with other Indo-European roots relating to the foot, but specifically formed with -εύω, a verbal suffix, to denote the act of going on foot.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested primarily in later Greek (Hellenistic and Koine), πεζεύω is not common in classical sources; in the New Testament, it distinctly contrasts traveling by sea (πλέω). In narrative contexts, its use marks those who travel by land, often emphasizing physical effort or the lack of conveyance. In Luke 7:6, for example, πεζεύω is used to distinguish a land route from a journey by ship. In the Septuagint, the term retains similar sense, usually standing over against maritime travel. English versions tend to render this as 'go afoot' or 'travel by land,' though contextual nuances—such as the hardship or intention involved in such overland travel—may be underplayed. Its use helps to clarify the means of travel in an era where passage by sea and on foot were distinct in both risk and status. Related terms are πεζός (on foot, pedestrian) and πλέω (to sail or travel by sea). There is no significant religious or ethnographic connotation—usage is practical and descriptive.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the same as πεζῇ; to foot a journey, i.e. travel by land:--go afoot.
Root Family
πεζεύω (pezeuō) — to walk, to go on foot, to travel by land
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3978-01 |
πεζεύειν | pezeuein | V PRS ACT INF |
to go by land | to travel on foot | go by land | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3978-01 |
Acts 20:13 | πεζεύειν | pezeuein | V PRS ACT INF |
to go by land | to travel on foot | go by land |