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περιπατέω

peripatéō

G4043 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To walk, to go about; more broadly, to conduct one’s life or behave in a certain manner. The primary meaning is physical movement from place to place, but commonly used figuratively in Hellenistic and Koine Greek to describe patterns of behavior, manner of living, or one's habitual conduct.

Semantic Range

to walk about, to move about physically, to go from place to place; to behave, to conduct oneself, to live (in a particular way), to follow a way of life, to pursue a course of action

Root / Etymology

From the preposition περί ('around, about') and the verb πατέω ('to tread'), meaning literally 'to walk around' or 'to tread about'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, περιπατέω primarily described physical walking about, either aimlessly or for exercise. By the Hellenistic period and especially in Koine Greek, it gained a common metaphorical use: one's way of life or conduct. In the Septuagint, it frequently renders Hebrew verbs like הָלַךְ (halakh, 'to walk, to go'), especially in figurative senses such as 'to walk before God' meaning to live righteously or to follow divine instruction. The New Testament continues this pattern, using περιπατέω both in its literal sense (of traveling or moving about) and its figurative sense (for moral, religious, or social conduct). Paul's letters especially favor the figurative sense: 'to live' according to the Spirit, faith, or love. English translations often simply render it as 'walk,' but this does not capture its full range, which includes habitual behavior, lifestyle, or ethical pattern. Distinct from ἕπομαι ('to follow') or βίω ('to live') in that περιπατέω emphasizes manner or course of life, not just existence or following another.

Translation Consistency

primary "walk" 94 occurrences

Primary meaning is physical movement and the common figurative use in Koine (to conduct one’s life, follow a way) is naturally rendered by “walk” in English (e.g., walk in righteousness, walk with God). It is the most frequent and natural choice in existing translations and matches the majority of occurrences (walking/walked/walks) while remaining idiomatic for behavioral senses.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from περί and πατέω; to tread all around, i.e. walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary):--go, be occupied with, walk (about).

Root Family

περιπατέω (peripateō) — to walk, to go about, to tread, to conduct one’s life

Root περιπατ- to walk, to go about, to tread

Word Forms

26 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4043-09 περιπατεῖν peripatein V PRS ACT INF to walk to walk about to walk about 10
G4043-08 περιπάτει peripatei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG walk keep walking about keep walking about 10
G4043-11 περιπατεῖτε peripateite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL walk keep walking keep walking 9
G4043-01 περιεπάτει periepatei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG walked was walking about was walking about 7
G4043-19 περιπατῶν peripaton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG walking walking about walking about 6
G4043-26 περιπατοῦσιν peripatousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL walk they are walking about they are walking about 6
G4043-22 περιπατοῦντας peripatountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL walking walking about the ones walking 6
G4043-21 περιπατοῦντα peripatounta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG walking walking about walking 5
G4043-23 περιπατοῦντες peripatountes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL walking walking about walking about 5
G4043-18 περιπατῶμεν peripatomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL we walk let us walk about let us walk about 3

Occurrences in Scripture

95 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4043-19 Matthew 4:18 περιπατῶν peripaton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG walking walking about walking about
G4043-08 Matthew 9:5 περιπάτει peripatei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG walk keep walking about keep walking about
G4043-26 Matthew 11:5 περιπατοῦσιν peripatousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL walk they are walking about they are walking about
G4043-19 Matthew 14:25 περιπατῶν peripaton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG walking walking about walking about
G4043-21 Matthew 14:26 περιπατοῦντα peripatounta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG walking walking about walking
G4043-05 Matthew 14:29 περιεπάτησεν periepatesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG walked walked about walked on
G4043-22 Matthew 15:31 περιπατοῦντας peripatountas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL walking walking about the ones walking
G4043-08 Mark 2:9 περιπάτει peripatei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG walk keep walking about keep walking about
G4043-01 Mark 5:42 περιεπάτει periepatei V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG walked was walking about was walking about
G4043-19 Mark 6:48 περιπατῶν peripaton V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG walking walking about walking about
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