ὀρθοποδέω (orthopodeō)
orthopodeō
be upright
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb orthopodeō describes walking in a straight, upright manner, literally meaning "to go with straight feet." It appears only once in the New Testament, in Galatians 2:14, where Paul confronts Peter for withdrawing from table fellowship with Gentile believers. The image is physical and immediate: stepping back or avoiding someone creates a crooked path, while standing firm together represents walking straight.
Paul uses this rare word metaphorically to describe Christian conduct. To "walk uprightly" means to live consistently with the truth of the gospel, without compromising principles for social comfort or tradition. The term combines roots for "straight" and "foot," emphasizing that right belief must result in direct, unswerving action. Translators often render it as "acting rightly" or "living in line with the truth," capturing the idea that integrity requires visible, steady movement forward.
This single usage highlights how Paul valued unity across cultural boundaries not as a vague ideal but as a concrete practice. When Peter stopped eating with Gentiles, he was effectively stepping off the straight path. The word reminds readers that theological correctness must be lived out in daily relationships, with no deviations for the sake of convenience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word orthopodeō paints a vivid picture of walking with straight feet. In Galatians 2:14, Paul uses this rare term to describe how we should live in light of the gospel. It is not enough to hold correct beliefs; our actions must align with those truths. When Peter withdrew from Gentile believers, he stepped off the straight path, compromising the unity Christ established.
This calls us to examine our own walks. Do we adjust our behavior to fit social expectations, or do we stand firm in the truth? Living uprightly means refusing to let fear or tradition dictate our relationships. It is a call to integrity, where faith and practice move together without deviation.
May you find strength to walk steadily in the truth, letting your daily actions reflect the grace you have received. Let your life be a testimony of consistency, drawing others closer to Christ through your unwavering commitment to His word.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they are walking uprightly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀρθοποδοῦσιν1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 2:14
But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
Paul uses this unique verb to rebuke Peter for compromising gospel truth by separating from Gentile believers, showing that upright walking requires consistent action aligned with faith.