| Back
Theological Word Study: "To Walk" (from the Hebrew) i l h A Theological Word Study �to go� �to walk� Alvin Shaul Bowes, HB301 Word Study Project: ilh December 8, 2003 ilh The Usage and Meaning of �hlk� Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures The Hebrew word ilh with the basic meanings of �to go� and �to walk� holds a significantly wide usage throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. It is likely that the word has its origins in the Akkadian language with the word al?ku. This Akkadian word means to �live, behave, or act.� Other forms of the Akkadian include al?ku itti, meaning �to accompany him,� atalluku/italluku, meaning �go repeatedly,� and muttallikat m?ti, meaning �omnipresent in the land.� Also, the word �hlk� is used in referring to the �going� of the gods in Ugaritic texts. Another possible meaning here is �to flow.� The following is a list of some of the Hebrew derivatives of ilh: El^h* (h?lak): qal-�to go, walk, behave� pi�el-�to go, go about, to and fro, walk about, go up and down, walk along, behave oneself, depart� Eyl!h* (h?l�k): �step� hk*yl!h& (hal�k�): �walk, doings, caravan, procession� El#h@ (h?lek): �going, flow, visitor� El*h&m^ (mahal?k): �passage, distance, journey, access� hk*l%h&T^ (t~ahaluk�) : �festal procession� Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures ilh and its derivatives appear 1,547 times. It appears 1,412 times in the qal form, 64 times in the hitpa�el form, 45 times in the hi�phil form, and 25 times in the pi�el form. It also appears seven times in Biblical Aramaic. There are five books of scripture that contain over 100 forms of ilh. They include: Genesis (121), Judges (111), 1 Samuel (137), 1 Kings (122), and Jeremiah (116). Ilh, as it appears in the book of Psalms, is significant because there are more ni�phil (1), pi�el (12), and hitpa�el (14) forms of it than in any other book of scripture. The most hi�phil forms of ilh appearing in a single book is five, appearing in 2 Kings, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The meaning of ilh, although it is fairly established as �to go,� does vary significantly based on the context in which it is used. For example, when speaking of animals as in Genesis three and Lamentations 5, serpents �crawl� and foxes �dash about.� It can also mean to �sail� (Gen 7:18), �drag[s] along� (Gen 32:31) and �go� or �flow� (Gen 2:14). When used in conjunction with rj^a^ and yr@j&a^ it acquires the meaning �to follow, follow after� which is used frequently throughout the scriptures. The most common words used in the Greek Septuagint that parallel to ilh include pareuvomai, a*kolouqevw, and poreuvesqai (947x). Others include: evrchesqai (26x), apevrcesqai (136x), badivzein (47x), peripateivn (24x), and givgnesqai (2x). There are 48 other Greek equivalents to the Hebrew ilh. Those presented here are the most accurate and common. According to the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, there are nine main usages of the Hebrew word ilh; two are secular, and seven are theological. The first of the secular usages deals with a spatial movement or journey. The emphasis lies in the importance of the journey itself, on the starting point and on the destination. Examples of this can be seen in Genesis 12:1 and 13:3. The second of the secular usages defines ilh in terms of a metaphorical meeting. The idea is the same as the spatial movement, except it is now metaphorical and referring to the human life as a journey, focusing on the starting points and destinations in human life. Examples of this can be see in Exodus 18:20 and Leviticus 18:3. The first theological usage of ilh is defined as �walking before Yahweh.� According to Driver, �to walk before anyone is to live and move openly before him.� Examples of this usage can be found in Genesis 24:20 and 48:15. The second theological meaning is �walking with God.� This interpretation of ilh deals with the relationship with God in a metaphysical sense. It is to walk with God in love, kindness, and humility. The third theological usage is defined as �following after Yahweh or other gods.� When speaking of other Gods it refers to cultic worship. When speaking of Yahweh it means fulfillment of God�s law (Johannes and Botterweck, 395). The fourth is �going from Yahweh.� This usage of ilh is used in contexts when a person or persons has turned their back on God. Examples of this can be found in Jeremiah 15:6 and Hosea 11:2. The fifth theological usage of ilh is �walking in the way(s) of Yahweh.� This refers to living as God would have one to live, that is, primarily, by the following of His commandments. Examples of this can be seen in Deuteronomy 26:17 and 28:9. The sixth theological usage refers to �messengers.� When used to speak of messengers and messages, this form of ilh most commonly is connected with the idea of a prophetic message. Examples of this can be taken from Exodus 7:15 and Jeremiah 35:2. The last of the theological usages speaks of �God�s going.� More specifically, this means the movement of God. This can be seen when God moves in the pillar of clouds fire (Exodus 13:21). Other examples can be found in Leviticus 26:12 and Numbers 14:14b. ilh is a word that is integral to a proper understanding of much of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is extremely critical that one examine the verbal formation of ilh when seeking to translate and/or interpret the Scriptures. This is true when studying any biblical verb of such high frequency and importance. This study has been both informative and transformational in the understanding of how one word can describe so much about our God, our relationship with him, and the manner in which circumstances occur throughout this great journey of life. Bibliography (MLA Format) 1. Ernst Jenni, Claus Westermann, Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament-Volume 1, 1997 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 2. G. Johannes Botterweck, Helmer Ringgren, Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament-Volume 3, 1978 by William b. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 3. VanGermern, New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, 1997 by Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, Michigan. |