διαπορεύω (diaporeuō)
diaporeuō
to go through
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb diaporeuō describes the physical act of traveling through or passing across a region. It combines a prefix indicating thoroughness or crossing with a root meaning to be unable to pass, creating an image of moving from one side of a space to the other. In the New Testament, this word appears five times, primarily in Luke’s writings and Acts, where it grounds the narrative in specific geography.
Its usage often highlights the movement of Jesus or the early church through particular landscapes. For instance, Luke records Jesus stating he must journey through cities and villages (Luke 13:22), while Acts notes Paul traveling through specific districts (Acts 16:4). This concrete sense of transit distinguishes it from words that might imply lingering or stationary teaching; here, the focus is on the passage itself.
The term carries a neutral tone regarding the journey’s purpose, serving simply to mark location and movement. Whether describing Jesus passing through cornfields (Mark 2:23) or Paul strengthening churches (Acts 16:4), the word anchors the spiritual narrative in real-world travel. It reminds readers that the message was carried across actual terrain, connecting distant communities through physical presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word διαπορεύω (diaporeuō) paints a picture of moving through a space, crossing from one side to another. It is not about staying in one place but about the journey itself. In Luke’s writings, we see Jesus going through cities and villages, teaching as He travels toward Jerusalem. This reminds us that faith is lived out on the road, in the daily movement of life.
When Paul strengthened the churches by traveling through specific districts, he was not just passing by; he was connecting communities with real presence. The message of Christ was carried across actual terrain, linking distant believers together. This physical transit shows that our spiritual walk involves active engagement with the world around us.
Even when we face long journeys or uncertain paths, this word grounds us in the reality of God’s presence with us as we move forward. It invites us to see our daily travels not as distractions but as opportunities to share hope and strengthen others along the way.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they were passing through1×
- passing along1×
- going through1×
- [is] passing along1×
- He was going through1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διεπορεύοντο1×
- διεπορεύετο1×
- διαπορεύεσθαι1×
- διαπορευόμενος1×
- διαπορευομένου1×
Key Verses
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Luke 13:22
He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
This verse highlights Jesus’ deliberate movement through cities and villages as He makes His way toward Jerusalem, emphasizing the purposeful nature of His journey.
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Acts 16:4
As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
Here, Paul’s travel through cities serves to deliver apostolic decrees, showing how physical movement facilitated the spread of early church guidance.
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Luke 6:1
Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate, rubbing them in their hands.
The phrase describes Jesus going through grain fields, anchoring a moment of conflict with religious leaders in a specific, tangible location.