Greek word · G1704

ἐμπεριπατέω

emperipateō

to walk in/among

To walk about in or among; to move around within a place. Translates the Hebrew hitpael of hālak (hithallēk), "to walk to and fro".

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐν-περι-πατέω, -ῶ

(Rec. ἐμπ-, see: ἐν) [in LXX: Leviticus 26:12 Job 1:7, al. (הָלַךְ hithp.), Wisdom of Solomon 19:21 ;]

to walk about in or among: before ἐν., dative of person(s), 2 Corinthians 6:16 (LXX),†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:16

Range of meaning

To walk about in or among; to move around within a place. Translates the Hebrew hitpael of hālak (hithallēk), "to walk to and fro".

Against the English

"Walk among" is accurate. KJV/WEB "walk in them" sounds like something inside individuals; the picture is God walking through the camp of his people.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Lev 26:12 ("I will walk about among you"); Deut 23:15 [Eng. 23:14]: "the LORD your God walks about in your camp… so your camp must be holy". The same Hebrew verb is used for God walking in the garden (Gen 3:8).

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:16 ἐμπεριπατήσω, will walk among [them],

    What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

    Here: Taken straight from Greek Leviticus 26:12: God moving about in the camp of his people, as he walked in Eden. Active, everyday presence, which also makes the place holy.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.